A WOMAN stole £220 of property from another female in a daylight knife attack.

The attacker pounced from an old-style red Ford Escort, driven by a man close to the mini roundabout on the junction of Eagle Street and Paradise Street, Accrington.

The victim had just finished work and was walking home when the car pulled along side her and the woman got out.

The attacker grabbed hold of the startled victim's arm, produced a knife and demanded she handed over her black leather handbag, containing a crocodile purse containing £20 in cash, a bottle of perfume and a red Nokia mobile phone.

After the mugger grabbed the bag, she got back into the car which drove off along Eagle Street and turned left on to Blackburn Road.

DS Mark Rothwell, of Accrington CID said: "This is a very unusual attack and it appears that they were desperate individuals who selected a young woman at random.

"We are anxious to speak with anyone who witnessed the attack."

Anyone with information on Saturday's attack at 5.15pm should call Accrington CID on 01254 353741 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.