A woman has been repeatedly punched in the face by a man who robbed her of her handbag.

Detectives investigating the mugging in a Rainham alleyway have released a computer-generated image of a man they want to speak to.

The woman, 56 and from the Gillingham area, told police she was walking in the alleyway between 6.35am and 6.50am on Monday when she was approached by a man.

As she reached the end of the alley, between Winchester Way and Solomon Road, he moved towards her with his arms outstretched and demanded her handbag.

When she refused to give it to him, the man punched her three times - forcing her to drop the bag.

He then grabbed it and run off in the direction of Winchester Way.

"This was a particularly concerning incident in which a woman was walking to work when she was approached by a man who assaulted her before stealing her handbag..." - DS Cara Ferguson

The bag contained the woman's purse, keys and bank cards. The woman also suffered a cut lip and swollen cheek during the attack.

DS Cara Ferguson, of Kent Police, said: "This was a particularly concerning incident in which a woman was walking to work when she was approached by a man who assaulted her before stealing her handbag.

"Thankfully incidents of this type are rare in Medway, but we have released an image of a man we would like to speak to in connection with this assault.

"I would urge anyone who might recognise this person, or might have and information that could prove helpful in our investigation, to contact us as soon as possible."

The suspect is white, aged between 25 and 30, about 5ft 6ins, of medium build and with cropped dark brown hair.

He was wearing a black bomber jacket, black jumper, dark coloured trousers and white trainers.

Any with information is asked to phone DS Ferguson on 01634 792584, quoting reference XY/1391/14, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.