A 71-YEAR-old widow's finger was dislocated by a thief who snatched her handbag.

Lillian Young, of Bishopsgarth, Stockton, said she was approached by a man on a bicycle who grabbed her handbag from behind.

Describing the attack as "out of the blue", Mrs Young said it had left her with a fear of strangers and of being on her own.

She was on her way to visit her disabled sister when the thief struck, as she walked along California Close, near the junction with Bute Street at about 11.45am on Thursday.

As he pulled the bag away from her, Mrs Young's hand slipped and got caught in the handle and the force of the wrench dislocated one of her fingers.

As well as hospital treatment for the injury, she has been left shaken and angry by her ordeal.

She said: "He just came out of nowhere. The bag slipped on to my fingers and as he yanked it away they got caught.

"My finger has now swollen up like a balloon and I will have to go back into hospital."

The multi-coloured shopping bag contained £23 in cash, her two front door keys, bus pass and tablets.

Mrs Young said: "When I got home after it happened, I was scared that he might come to my house because he had my front door keys. I was frightened to stay at my own home. I'll have to change the locks now.

"He'll no doubt be wanting drugs with what he found in my bag.

"I could not see his face because it happened so quickly and he sped off on his bike. You can't really print what I think of this man."

Despite being left traumatised by the attack, Mrs Young managed to give a description of her mugger.

She said he was white, in his mid-20s, about 5ft 9in with short, dark hair and had a stocky build.

He wore a navy blue jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone who saw the incident is asked to contact Stockton police on (01642) 326326.