An elderly woman suffered serious head and eye injuries when she was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack in Canterbury today.

The 84-year-old was hurt when a man tried to snatch her bag while she was walking near the Westgate Towers in St Peter's Place at midday.

He punched her in the face causing her to fall and hit her head. She suffered injuries to her eye, lip and the back of her head.

One man, who witnessed the aftermath, said it looked like the woman's eye was hanging out.

She was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to the William Harvey Hospital, in Ashford.

After the attack, officers launched a manhunt in the city centre.

Several police cars were spotted at the bus station in Watling Street at about 1pm.

An hour after the assault, a 34-year-old homeless man was arrested in Gravel Walk in the Whitefriars shopping precinct, on suspicion of attempted robbery.

Anyone who witnessed the attack and has not already spoken to police is asked to call 101, quoting reference 16-514.