A PARTIALLY-SIGHTED pensioner who was mugged for her savings as she went to buy an outfit for her grandson's wedding has had the money replaced - by the firm that helped her after the attack.

Mary Corcoran, 76, had her handbag snatched in Broomhill Road, Strood, as she set off on her shopping trip. With no cash to make a phone call, Mrs Corcoran stumbled into Strood Motor Company in Gravesend Road for help.

As his staff began an immediate whip-round to replace her stolen £100, David Fuller, the boss, offered to replace all the money.

Mrs Corcoran, a retired factory worker who lives in Strood, was attacked by a man aged around 20 with brown hair. He was wearing a grey sweater and light coloured trousers.

He got out of a white car then grabbed the bag.

Mrs Corcoran said: "I've not been to the garage before, but I just headed for where there were people and they helped me." Garage manager Peter Dockerill said: "We wanted to help her with a whip-round, but the boss said he would give it to her from the company."

Mrs Corcoran stressed: "I'll be paying back the money though, because he had to earn it, just like the rest of us, and I felt bad taking it."

Since the attack Mrs Corcoran, who lives with her husband Richard, 82, has had trouble sleeping. But she refuses to let the mugging stop her going out. She added: "I'm not going to let a young lad get the better of me."

Anyone with information about the attack, just after 10am on April 16, is asked to contact police on (01634) 884252.