A PENSIONER suffered face and leg injuries after she was dragged along the ground after a drive-by handbag snatch in Radcliffe on Saturday afternoon (May 18).

The 77-year-old woman was walking along Victoria Street at 12.50pm when she was approached from behind by a blue Ford Escort.

A passenger reached out from the car and grabbed the her handbag strap. She was then dragged along the pavement until she let go of the bag.

The pensioner was taken to Fairfield General Hospital for treatment to cuts and bruising to her head, neck and knee, and was later allowed to return home.

The Ford Escort, which had been stolen from Middleton, was used the same day in a similar incident in the Salford area. A 76-year-old woman was injured at 3pm when a man got out of a blue Ford Escort and grabbed her shopping bag. When she didn't let go, she was dragged into the street and her head was smashed to the floor. The attacker then took her bag and climbed back into the car.

He is described as white, aged 24, 6ft with blond hair. He was wearing blue tracksuit bottoms and a baseball cap.

The driver was aged in his 20s with a shaven head and described as thin with a gaunt face.

Anyone who witnessed the Radcliffe incident is asked to contact Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8248 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.