TWO women, aged in their 70s, were knocked down by street robbers and an elderly man was robbed at knifepoint as criminals continue to target Bury.

The knife robbery happened as a 62-year-old man was walking along Bolton Street at 7.20pm on Thursday (Sept 12) when he was approached by two Asian males dressed in dark clothing. They threatened him with a knife before stealing his property.

In the first of two separate attacks on women, a 73-year-old cyclist was knocked from her bicycle at 1pm on Friday (Sept 13) by two thugs as she rode on the pavement near to the Woodfield Retail Park off Peel Way.

Two teenagers attempted to steal the injured woman's handbag but fled empty-handed after being disturbed. The victim suffered grazing to her knee in the fall from her bike.

The offenders are described as white males, aged in their late teens and approximately 5ft 7ins. One of them is further described as slim, with blond hair and wearing a white T-shirt. His accomplice is of medium build with short dark hair.

And, at noon on Saturday (Sept 14) in Chislehurst Close, Bury, a 76-year-old woman suffered a hip injury after she was pushed to the ground during a struggle with a handbag thief who escaped with around £70 worth of property.

The woman had left her friends house and was walking along Chislehurst Close when she was approached by a man who stopped and asked her for the time. He then attempted to take her handbag.

The pensioner resisted which resulted in the woman being pushed to the ground. The man then ran off with her navy blue handbag which contained a quantity of money and various bank cards.

A passerby telephoned for an ambulance and the woman was taken to Fairfield General Hospital where she was treated for an injury to her left leg and hip.

Her attacker is described as being white, in his early twenties, wearing a black and white T-shirt and black tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone who witnessed any of the three street robberies should contact Bury CID on 856 8150 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.