POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault that happened last week when an elderly woman was pushed to the floor and her handbag snatched.

The woman, in her eighties, was walking alone on St Katherine's Way, Howley, on Friday at around 1.30pm when the attack took place.

She was approached from behind and shoved to the floor.

The offender fled with a black, leather-look handbag containing a substantial amount of cash and shopping vouchers for Marks and Spencer.

The man is described as being around 5ft 8ins tall in his late teenage years, wearing a navy blue short-sleeved top, white shoes and a grey woollen hat.

The woman was wearing dark green trousers and a red coat at the time of the attack.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Mark Warren at Warrington CID on 01244 350 000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.