A 71-YEAR-OLD wheelchair-bound woman fell to the floor during a tussle with a thief who stole her handbag.

The pensioner from Wakefield was being pushed in the wheelchair by her partner -- also a pensioner -- through an alleyway between the Imperial Hotel and the Park House Hotel on the Prom at 4pm on March 11.

A man came up to the couple and lunged at the lady's handbag, which was on her lap. He scuffled with the pensioners and the lady fell from her wheelchair. Her elderly partner also fell to the ground.

The thief ran off along Dickson Road and vanished.

The handbag contained a mobile phone, cash, jewellery -- altogether property valued at £835. The lady's purse was found -- empty -- a short time later on a wall in nearby Braithwaite Street.

The thief was white, aged around 25, with short, dark hair. He wore a navy fleece. Contact police on (01253) 293933 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555 111 with any information.