POLICE are looking for a robber who knocked two middle aged women to the ground and snatched a handbag.

His victims were going shopping at The Parkway, Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, when the attacker struck near the suburb's Fairy Dell Park.

He knocked one woman to the ground and when her friend tried to intervene she was also floored by the thief, who ran into the park with the first woman's bag.

Police searched the area but found no one. Detective Sergeant Ian Craig, of Middlesbrough's Robbery Squad, said: "This was a cowardly attack on two friends who were simply about to enjoy an afternoon's shopping.''

The women, who are both in their forties, were left shaken by their ordeal, but otherwise unhurt.

The assailant, who struck at 3pm last Saturday, is described as white, unshaven and tanned, in his early twenties and about 5ft 7in, with short, dark hair. Both women noticed his "dark, staring eyes". He wore navy blue tracksuit bottoms tucked into white socks. Anyone with information is asked to ring Cleveland Police on (01642) 303336 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.