A THIEF snatched an elderly woman's handbag with such force that she slipped from her walking frame and fell to the floor.

The 81-year-old woman was walking in Faringdon when she was targeted from behind by a man, who grabbed the bag from her grasp and fled towards Faringdon Business Centre.

The theft happened on a path linking Southampthon Street South and Century Close on Tuesday, at about 3pm. 

He dumped her bag for police to find, but not before stealing her bank card.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses, and described the man as white and in his early to mid twenties.

He was clean-shaven, thin with collar-length brown hair and wore a long-sleeved dark top and light trousers.

PC Julian Pavitt, based at Abingdon Police Station, said: “This happened at a busy time of day. Local schools were finishing for the day, so there may have been a number of people who may have seen the suspect walk rapidly out of the footpath near to the White Horse Medical Centre."

Anyone with information can call 101 quoting reference number 43160269439, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.