A 57-YEAR-OLD woman managed to fend off a man who twice tried to take her handbag despite being knocked to the floor.

The woman was walking from St Hilda's Way where she had got off a bus and was approached by a man in St Dunstan's Drive.

As she passed the Westcourt Inn pub he tried to grab her bag and in the struggle she fell to the floor, hitting her head.

The woman got up and the robber fled towards St Hilda's Way.

As the woman began to walk home the man came back and again tried to grab the bag but ran off empty-handed.

The robber is described as white, aged between 20 and 25, 5ft 4in tall and of slim build.

He was wearing a dark beige hat and a knee-length dark beige jacket.

If you have information on the March 15 incident, which began at 8.45pm, call police on 01474 565211.