ELDERLY people have been warned about a serial bag snatcher after a 90-year-old woman became the latest town centre victim.

It is the third offence of this kind in less than two weeks and officers say they believe the same person could be responsible.

The woman had been shopping and was walking home along Gillies Street, off Park Street, Accrington, when a girl approached her from behind, snatched her handbag and ran off towards Cedar Street.

The victim was left shocked and upset by the incident, which happened between 3.15pm and 3.30pm yesterday , although she was not injured.

A man then came to the woman's rescue and ran after the offender. Police say he was in his late teens or early 20s, wearing a navy blue jacket. Officers say they would like him to get in touch with them.

The girl was white, in her mid to late teens, with fair hair, wearing a beige or cream hip length jacket.

Another two elderly women have had their bags snatched in similar incidents around the town centre.

In the first incident, on January 24, an 84-year-old woman was walking along Water Street, Accrington, when her bag was snatched by a girl who knocked her to the floor before running off.

Six days later an 80-year-old woman was walking in the Avenue Parade area of town when she was also knocked to the floor when a girl snatched her bag.

DC Mark Oates, of Accrington CID, said: "There are not many offences like this committed by young females so I would suggest it's the same person responsible.

"We don't want to worry people but people need to be aware of where they are walking and if possible try to stick to main roads instead of using short cuts.

"These are cowardly attacks on vulnerable people going about their daily tasks and the people are not in a position to offer any kind of resistance."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Oates at Accrington CID on 01254 353741.