A FIESTY female pensioner punched and frisked a man who tried to steal her handbag in the car park of a Hampshire supermarket.

A 74-year-old woman had packed her car with shopping in the Tesco carpark in New Milton when she was approached by a young man asking where the nearest hospital showing her a map.

While this was happening a second offender had opened the victims’ car door and was looking through her handbag.

But it was only when another member of the public shouted to the woman “you’re being robbed” that the offenders walked off – but she pursued the pair, asking if they had stolen her handbag.

When they said no she went to the young man who had initially approached her and started to search his pockets, running her hands down his legs.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: “I called him a very unladylike name and punched him on the arm. I was angry and it was not very nice.”

The incident happened at around 12.30pm on Wednesday and police confirmed that nothing was missing from the car or from the handbag.

After the incident, the woman left the car park and tried to see if she could spot the offenders as she was worried they may target someone else, but had no luck.

The woman has now said she feels extremely grateful to the man who shouted to alert her.

She described the men as Eastern European with dark hair, aged in their twenties and around 5ft 4 tall and very slim.

Anyone with information should contact Hampshire Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 44150409686 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.