A COURAGEOUS woman fought off a mugger as he tried to snatch her handbag.

The 51-year-old woman was walking along Whitchurch Way in Halton Lodge, Runcorn, when a man came out of the bushes and tried to grab her bag.

When she resisted, he struck her in the face and ran off empty-handed towards the shops.

DC Deborah Morgan said: “The victim sustained a slight injury but nothing was taken.

“She is OK now.

“We want to remind women to be more vigilant, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

“We do tend to have bag snatches at this time of year.

“When people are Christmas shopping, you can become more lapse and leave your handbag on a hook or on top of your shopping trolley in a supermarket.

“We want to urge people to take more care of their personal belongings.”

The mugger was in his early 20s, shaven with dark stubble. He was wearing dark clothing which included a jacket with a hood and a woolen hat underneath, possibly tracksuit bottoms and grey trainers.

The incident happened on Thursday, November 28, at 5.30pm near Croftwood community support centre in Whitchurch Way.

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.