A WOMAN was left shaken after she was the victim of an attempted mugging.

The 53-year-old woman was walking alone along Stonyhurst Road in Blackburn shortly before 8pm on Wednesday when a man approached her, grabbed her handbag and tried to run off with it.

The bag strap snapped and the woman, who lives in the area, managed to keep hold of it.

The would-be mugger ran off in the direction of Sunnyhurst Road towards the ambulance station.

A police spokesperson said: "The victim was left uninjured but very shaken by the incident.

"The offender is described as a white male, 5ft 3in tall and wearing dark clothing but had a scarf obscuring most of his face."

Anyone with information should contact Blackburn police on 0845 1253543 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.