MARY Bellfield is afraid to go out alone in the village of Littlebourne, near Canterbury, after twice being mugged by youths on bicycles. In the latest attack, Mrs Bellfield, 48, who walks with two sticks after a fall, was knocked down by a young cyclist who then stole her purse containing £148 incapacity benefit.

Last December two teenagers on bikes cut her handbag straps and stole her purse and an antique brooch while she was walking past the village recreation ground. Police are not linking the attacks, which both happened in daylight.

Mrs Bellfield said: "I was only just getting my confidence back from the last attack, and now it happens again. It was only fortunate that it was me who was attacked rather than someone in their eighties or nineties, who might not recover from such a shock."

Since the village policeman went on long-term sick leave a year ago there has been no regular police presence in Littlebourne. Parish council chairman Betty Jeffries said: "The police told us at our annual parish meeting that we are not a high priority area, because there isn't much crime, but this sort of offence is being pushed out into rural areas."