POLICE are hunting youths they believe are using a car to target vulnerable people.

A 74-year-old Skelton woman, who was unloading shopping from a trolley into a car in the Somerfield car park off Milton Street, in Saltburn, at about 12.10pm on Monday, was targeted by the youths.

A small red car with dark plastic sheeting instead of glass in the rear windscreen pulled up beside her.

A hand appeared from the driver's side window and grabbed her bag, which was secured around the trolley by its straps. The woman struggled and the trolley fell over, still with the bag attached. The car drove off and the elderly woman was left shaken.

Witnesses say the car was seen in the car park around noon and police believe that the occupants, possible two males, may have been waiting for a vulnerable person to target.

Officers have received information that the same car was seen again later that day at about 3pm outside the nearby Spa store, where it was almost involved in a collision with another car.

This time the red car, which possibly contained three people, sounded its horn and drove off along Milton Street towards Saltburn Bank.

DC Saun Storey of Redcar CID said: "This was a frightening ordeal for this elderly lady. Thankfully she wasn't physically hurt during the struggle.

"The car is very distinctive and there must be lots of people who saw it in the Milton Street area of Saltburn town centre on Monday."

He urged anyone who saw the car, or who has any information, to call (01642) 302626 or (01642) 302636.