Woman, 84, attacked with hammer in broad daylight outside Dales tea room

The incident happened in the market town of Leyburn at around 11am this morning, when the woman was hit on the head near the alleyway at the side of the Posthorn Tea and Coffee shop in the market place.

The attacker ran off with the woman’s handbag, which was later found in a block of public toilets near the village cinema with the contents missing.

Police believe the suspect got away with a large amount of cash after the victim had withdrawn money from her account.

The raider used a hammer and a stick to attack the victim, who was treated by ambulance staff at the scene before being taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital for treatment to head injuries. Her condition there is said to be stable.

The suspect is described as a white woman in her forties and was wearing a burgundy or wine-coloured winter coat, she had mid-length, mid-brown hair. She is also described as having high colour in her cheeks.

Police are appealing for anyone was in the Leyburn market place this morning who either witnessed the attack or saw a woman matching the description of the suspect in either of the toilet blocks, or walking between the two, to contact them urgently.

The hammer has not been found and police are also appealing to anyone who finds it locally, to contact them immediately.

Detective Inspector Andrea Kell, said: “This is a horrific attack on an elderly woman in broad daylight and it is vital that we find the person responsible. I am appealing to any members of the public who were in the market place today to contact us if they believe they can assist the investigation, or anyone who knows who carried out this shocking attack, to contact us as a matter of urgency. ”

Anyone with any information can call North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 247, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.