POLICE are appealing for information following a robbery in an alleyway behind the parade of shops.

The incident happened after a 68-year-old woman attempted to park her car near to the shops in Wrotham Road, Meopham, near Gravesend.

She was not able to park outside so drove down an alley adjacent to a DIY shop.

As she was getting out of the vehicle a man approached her car and opened the front passenger door and tried to grab her handbag from the footwell.

The woman grabbed her bag and the offender tried to shake it loose. The victim eventually let go of the bag after her fingernails were bent back on one of her hands by the force of him shaking the bag, causing them to bleed.

The offender ran off and got into a car, which then drove away. The items stolen were a grey handbag containing various bank- cards and £70 in cash.

The offender is described as a white man, aged between 18 and 19 years old, of slim build, wearing a white shirt and blue trousers. He also had a white baseball cap on.

The incident happpened at about 3.50pm on Wednesday, August 3. PC Anthony Higgins, the officer investigating this incident said: “The victim was very distressed and I would urge anyone who may have seen this offender and knows who he is to contact the Police.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Higgins quoting reference 16864 at North Kent Police on 01474 565167 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – calls to this number are free and you may be eligible for a reward.