An elderly woman was left badly shaken by a robber who forced his way into her home.

The victim, who is in her 70s, was opening her front door, at her house in Chapel Lane, Queensbury, when the suspect barged his way past her and went into the kitchen. The robber threatened the woman and forced her to sit down in the living room, where he stole cash from the purse in her handbag.

He also took jewellery, including rings, from her before leaving the house, ordering her not to move.

The victim was badly shaken and shocked and suffered a bruised hand when the raider forced entry.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the robbery, which happened at about 8pm last night.

A police spokesman said: “This was a cowardly attack on a vulnerable victim in her own home which left her badly shaken.

“We are anxious that no other vulnerable people have to go through a similar ordeal and would urge anyone who may be able to provide information, however small it might seem, to come forward and help us apprehend the person responsible.”

The suspect is described as a white man, approximately 20 years old and 5ft 6in.

He was wearing a black jacket and had some sort of clothing covering the lower half of his face.

Anyone with any information about the robbery, or the suspect, is asked to call PC Louise Matthews on 0845 6060606, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.