A woman in her 70s was flung backwards as she tried to wrestle her handbag from a robber after being mugged in the middle of the day, it has emerged.

The woman was pushed from behind by a man in Chigwell library car park in Hainault Road.

She lost her balance and the man grabbed her bag.

The man got into a dark coloured vehicle and was driving off when the woman, who is from Chigwell, tried to grab him through the window.

She was forced back, but was not hurt.

The mugging happened on July 7 and police released details yesterday.

The woman's handbag contained glasses, a mobile phone, a purse, bank cards and cash.

The man is described as white, in his late 30s, about 5ft 4ins and "well groomed" with dark hair.