AN 82-year-old woman was today recovering in hospital after she was beaten and dragged along the ground during a horrifying mugging.

The woman, who has not been identified, suffered cuts, bruises and head injuries when she was knocked to the floor and kicked and punched by her attacker who snatched her handbag before running off.

The thug is believed to have stalked his victim along Oak Drive on Runcorn's Grangeway estate, before pouncing.

After grabbing her bag, which contained cash and personal documents, he fled to the Grangeway estate, following the attack on Friday at 9.30pm.

DC Owen Woodfine described the attacker as a 'coward'.

He said: 'This was a disgraceful cowardly attack on an elderly lady and I ask that if anyone has information as to the identity of the offender to contact the police.'

The incident is the latest in a serious of handbag snatches in which the use of violence has escalated, bringing terror to elderly women in the borough.

Six attacks have occurred on the Grangeway, Halton Brook and Brow estates within a one-mile radius of each other.

The elderly victim of the latest attack was unable to give a description of the mugger. However, previous victims have all given similar descriptions of the attacker.

He is described as white, thin, with a sallow complexion and a gaunt face.

He wears a track suit top and dark trousers or tracksuit bottoms and trainers. In two attacks he wore a blue baseball cap.

* Anyone with information should contact DC Woodfine on 01928 713456.