An 82-year-old woman needed hospital treatment after she was attacked by a robber on her own doorstep.

The woman was walking back from a nearby shop to her home in Binnie Street, Barkerend, Bradford, yesterday morning when she was targeted by the thug.

As she put her key into the door she was grabbed by the neck, pushed into her house and shoved to the floor as her attacker fled with her handbag, which contained £70.

The distraught pensioner, who called the police, was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where she was treated for grazing to her arms, elbows and hands. She also suffered bruising to her neck.

Detective Inspector Steve Hopwood, of Bradford South CID, said: "We need to make sure we catch this man before he does anything like this again. This was an attack on a defenceless old lady who was going about her business.

"This woman was very vulnerable which makes it even worse. It's a devastating offence and a crime of violence.

"This man has quite clearly targeted this lady because of her vulnerability. The consequences could have been dire.

"We would appeal to the public in helping us to find this man who is clearly a risk to other elderly people."

Police officers have conducted house-to-house inquiries in the area and are appealing further afield for information about the attack, which happened at 10.50am.

The elderly woman was said to have been recovering from her ordeal with help from specially-trained police officers. DI Hopwood said the attack was an isolated incident in that particular area.

The robber is described as Asian or Afro-Caribbean, plump, clean-shaven, with straight hair and was wearing dark clothes.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Bradford South police helpdesk on (01274) 376459 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

e-mail: fiona.evans@bradford.newsdesk.co.uk