AN elderly woman was left badly shaken after a cyclist pedalled up behind her and grabbed her bag.

The 89-year-old woman, from Malvern, was walking slowly home from a shopping trip when the thief pounced, stealing a black pvc bag containing £120 and some personal papers.

The cyclist grabbed the black pvc bag in Pickersleigh Avenue at approximately 5pm on Thursday, December 3 before riding off behind nearby shops.

A police spokesman said: “The elderly victim was not touched or injured in the incident, but was badly shaken by what happened to her.

“She is clearly a vulnerable person and we want to identify the person who took advantage of that vulnerability to steal her bag, cash and personal belongings.

“We believe that there would have been a number of people around – both on foot and in or on vehicles – at the time, who either saw the incident or the cyclist immediately before or afterwards.”

Anyone with information can call Detective Constable Jez Hazlewood on 0300 333 3000, extension 67806.

Information can also be given – anonymously and free-of-charge – to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.