A THIEF has robbed an 86-year-old woman with a walking stick of her handbag.

The victim, who says she has been left feeling unable to go out on her own, had her bag snatched by a man after being struck on the back of the head as she walked alone.

She had been walking with her family along the Avenue, in Alverstoke, Gosport towards Village Road at around 8pm yesterday and she separated from them and continued on along Village Road.

She turned into a small road leading towards Ashburton Road and close to the junction with Jellicoe Avenue she felt a strike to her head.

Her multicoloured stripy bag, which contained £180 and bank cards, was taken and as she turned she saw a man running away in the direction she had come.

The victim had an injury to her head and was treated by paramedics at home, She said: "It was very frightening, I am shocked and upset about this incident and I don't think I will be able to go out on my own again after this."

Detective Constable Geoff Pike appealed for witnesses to come forward who may have seen the offender, who is believed to have run along Village Road and past the One Stop, or the victim.

In particular police are trying to identify a group of around five young men who cycled past the victim shortly beforehand.

Anyone with any information is asked to call DC Pike or Fareham CID 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

• A 43-year-old man from Gosport has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and is currently in police custody.