Pensioner foils Christmas Eve robbery bid

The 65-year-old woman fought back when the skinny man in his early 20s tried to take her handbag in the Clifton area of York, forcing him to flee empty-handed.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The man grabbed her handbag but the victim fought him off with her walking stick and he fell to the ground before running off empty-handed.”

The attack happened near Clifton Green at about 9.40pm on Christmas Eve.

The offender was white, 5ft 9ins, skinny with short dark and curly or bushy hair. He was wearing light brown or mustard-coloured jeans and a dark jacket or jumper.