Pensioner pushed to ground in attempted mugging

A man attempted to mug a 61-year-old woman after she had withdrawn money from a bank in Middleton and walked back towards her husband who was waiting in his car on Water Street.

Yards from the car, the man approached the woman and tried to grab the envelope. As the pair struggled, the offender pushed the woman to the ground, picked up the envelope which she had dropped and ran off with it.

Three members of staff from a nearby carpet factory saw what was happening and chased the man, who dropped the envelope as he fled. He was last seen on Wood Street.

The incident occured at about 2.15pm on Friday 13 September 2013.

The offender is described as being a white man, about 6ft 2in to 6ft 3in tall, of slim build and in his mid-20s. He had chipped teeth, a gaunt face, and was wearing a grey hooded top.

Detective Constable Charlotte Humphries said: "Thankfully this man was deterred and ran off empty handed, but we are still working hard to try and trace him and bring him to justice for this robbery.

"We would urge any witnesses who saw what happened, or may have seen where the man went next, to call us."

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 1704 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.