A young robber left an 80-year-old bruised and distressed after snatching her bag in broad daylight.

The woman was standing outside a neighbour's home in Winchester Road, Colchester, at about 12.15pm on Thursday but was about to leave because her friend was not there.

Police say before she could leave she was then approached by the man who began to talk to her about having some guttering work carried out.

Essex Police spokesman Peter Laurie said when she refused he pushed her against a fence, grabbed the black shopping bag she was carrying and ran off in the direction of Myrtle Grove.

"She was left bruised and shaken but was not taken to hospital," he added.

He said they hope the detailed description she had bravely given them would help someone identify the robber who managed to get away with the bag which contained £70 in cash.

The man is described as speaking with a local accent and a stutter and is believed to be in his 20s.

He is clean shaven, between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10ins tall, slim, and wearing a light coloured thigh length coat.

"We are asking people in Colchester to be on the lookout for this man and also to be on their guard about people calling offering to do work.

Anyone with information about the incident in Winchester Road should contact Gary Jay on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

By Lauren Spurgeon

Reporter's e-mail: lauren_spurgeon@thisisessex.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.