A PENSIONER has been left blinded in one eye following a street robbery.

Thelma Nudd lost the sight in her right eye as well as suffering a deep gash across her face, a broken thumb and a fractured cheekbone when she was attacked from behind in Lymington.

The 83-year-old was walking along a footpath off Avenue Road when the attacker hit her over the back of the head, knocking her to the ground and leaving her unconscious.

The attacker then made off with her bag, which contained her purse, keys and chequebook.

Thelma's husband Reg made an emotional appeal to the public to help catch his wife's attacker.

He said: "There might be a chance that someone knows who did it. I would urge anyone who knows anything at all to go to the police so they can catch the person who did this."

The 84-year-old was sitting at home on Tuesday afternoon when he heard that his wife of 57 years had been attacked.

He said: "Thelma had been hit from behind with a blunt instrument across the side of her head which had knocked her unconscious.

"She had fallen to the floor and in the process broken a bone in her left thumb.

"Some kind passers-by picked Thelma up, phoned for an ambulance and called the police.

"When I arrived at Southampton General Hospital I was shocked at what I saw.

"Thelma was lying there, her head covered in blood, her face badly bruised.

"It was very distressing to see her like that.

"She could barely talk, and she could barely hear me.

"The eye surgeon said her right eye had been badly damaged and he would do what he could, but he couldn't guarantee he could save it.

"We have since been told that Thelma will never be able to see out of it again.

"Thelma is incredibly upset. In fact we have both been badly shaken."

Reg, who moved with Thelma to the area in 1985, said he was shocked the attack had taken place in Lymington.

Thelma was expected to return home to Lymington today.

Det Insp Lloyd Tobin, of New Forest CID, said: "This is an extremely nasty incident involving a vulnerable member of the community."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lyndhurst CID on 0845 045 4545, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.