An 88-year-old woman was left with a broken thigh after an attack as she walked to church in Bradford.

The woman, who has not been identified, was set upon at about 10am yesterday in Bakes Street, Great Horton.

A white, stockily built man about 6ft tall came up behind her and pushed her to the ground.

He then grabbed her handbag - containing about £30 - and ran off.

Det Con Ross Wadsworth of Dudley Hill CID said: "It is a despicable attack.

"We are taking this offence very seriously and we want to catch the culprit.

"The lady has also got severe bruising to both arms as a result of the fall and the attack and she will need an operation on her thigh.

"She is likely to be in hospital for seven or eight days.

"I am appealing for help from any possible witnesses to the incident or from anyone who has any information about her assailant."

He said there had been other handbag snatches in the area in past months but there was no evidence they were connected.

The woman, who lives alone in the area, was on her way to Great Horton Methodist Church.

The minister, the Rev Tony Dent, said: "It's a terrible thing - a terrible indictment of our modern society when things like this happen.

"Unfortunately she has had one or two accidents in the past - falls and so on - and then for this to happen.

"She is quite a well known public figure locally and she has been very involved in community life as well as the church.

"She has been coming to the Sunday morning service for about six years.

"Everyone is quite shocked - there have been a number of incidents like this over the months where people have had their bags snatched."

The thief was described as being aged between 20 and 25 with wavy hair and a goatee beard.

He was wearing a white polo shirt with short sleeves and blue jeans.

Anyone who can help the police is asked to contact Det Con Wadsworth on (01274) 376805.

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