POLICE are urging good Samaritans who helped an elderly mugging victim to come forward.

The 75-year-old woman was walking along Braidwood Road, in Normanby, Teesside, near the junction with Normanby Road, at about 4pm on Sunday when a green saloon car pulled up alongside her.

A passenger got out, pushed her to the ground and stole her bag, before running over Normanby Road, across the footbridge and towards Teesville.

The incident was witnessed by two young men and another man driving a blue van, who gave chase on foot. He was joined by several other men, who apprehended the thief near Smith's Dock playing fields.

The van driver reclaimed the woman's handbag and its contents, including £20.

A woman whose car was parked outside the Poverina pub gave the pensioner a lift home, where she is recovering from bruises and grazing to her elbow and extreme shock.

A man is now in police custody in relation to the incident, but police would like to speak to the blue van driver, the woman who gave the pensioner a lift, and any other witnesses.

PC Graham Fletcher, of South Bank police, said: "It is always heartening to find that members of the public are willing to help more vulnerable residents and we are grateful they did so on this occasion."

Witnesses are asked to ring (01642) 301906.