Police have released an image of a man they would like to speak to after a woman in her 60s was hit over the head so hard with her own walking stick by a robber that it broke in half.

The victim was sitting in her living room in Harold Street, Queenborough, at about 7pm on Saturday when a man went in and shouted at her to hand over her purse.

She refused and tried to grab her walking stick before the suspect used it to hit her over the head several times.

The victim used a chair to protect herself before the intruder took a knife, which had been used to open parcels, and threatened her.

She then tried to call the police and the robber ran out the back door.

He is believed to have taken the knife with him as well as the top part of the walking stick.

Officers say the suspect was white with tanned skin, tall, dark haired and wore a green hooded top and grey tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson said the victim's injuries were by far some of the worst he had seen.

The suspect is believed to have knocked at the victim's door two weeks earlier, where he claimed to be a neighbour.

He said his child had kicked a football into her garden and asked the victim to collect the ball.

Anyone with information should call police on 01795 419119, quoting crime reference 46/3191/18 or to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.