An elderly woman waiting for a bus to get to church was robbed of cash, her wooden rosary beads and a prayer book.

The woman had her handbag snatched, which contained the rosary and a Polish/English prayer book, both of which had been bought at the religious shrine of Lourdes in France with her husband who died six months ago.

The victim was waiting at a bus top in Toller Lane yesterday at its junction with Fairbank Road in Girlington to catch a bus to church.

A small red car pulled up and a man jumped out of the passenger side to begin talking to the pensioner.

He then pushed her down and grabbed her handbag and ran off towards Duckworth Lane.

The woman suffered bruising to her lower back and arm and was said to be deeply shocked by the ordeal.

The attacker was described as an Asian male, aged 18 to 20, 5ft 6ins to 5ft 8ins tall with short black hair shaven at the sides.

He had a clean-shaven, fair face and had what was described as a local Asian accent. He was wearing a dark blue coat and dark trousers.

The woman's handbag was black with a V-shaped flap and clasp. The bag also contained a white address book.

Anyone with information about the attack, which took place at 9.15am yesterday, is asked to contact PC Hardy at Bradford North police on 0845 6060606.