POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman was the victim of an attempted bag snatch in Matchborough on Thursday.

The woman was walking through the subway near the shops in Matchborough Centre shortly before 3pm when two male youths walked level with her.

One of them bent down and made a grab for her handbag, which she was carrying with other shopping bags.

After a slight struggle, the strap came away from the bag and the woman managed to hold on to it while the youth ran off with the strap in his hand.

Both youths were white and wearing jeans with black or navy anoraks with the hoods up, concealing their faces.

The youth who tried to grab the bag is described as 13-16 years old, 5ft 4ins tall and of slim build and the second youth was 14-16 years old, 5ft 10ins tall and of skinny build.

DC Stuart Hunt, from Redditch police, said: "This time the offenders weren't successful but we'd warn other shoppers to be on their guard.

"As part of our investigations into this incident, we'd like to speak to anyone in the area at the time, particularly a young woman with a pushchair who spoke to the victim shortly afterwards."

Anyone with information can call DC Hunt on 08457 444 888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.