A RETIRED man was hit on the head by thieves who stole his wife's handbag.

Frank Barnett, 71, and his wife Margaret, 69, were walking home from the Black Horse pub, in Billingham, Teesside, at 11.45pm, on Monday, when two men asked them the time.

While the couple looked at their watches, one man hit Mr Barnett on the back of the head with an object, knocking him to the ground.

Mr Barnett said: "I felt myself falling back, so he must have pushed me over into the road. I hit my head again."

The thieves grabbed his wife's handbag and ran to a car.

Mr Barnett said: "My wife had to drag me off the road, where I was lying, to stop me getting run over."

Mrs Barnett was upset by the attack, which left her bruised and with a sore wrist.

Her husband said: "There was about £75 cash in the handbag, along with her diary and personal items. But what I think upset her most was losing a gold Parker pen which belonged to her father. Things like that are irreplaceable."

One of the attackers was white, aged 25 to 35, 5ft 8in, thin and with blond hair. He was wearing a light T-shirt and trousers. The second man was aged 20 to 25, wearing dark clothing and a dark woolly hat.

Anyone with information can call Billingham police on (01642) 302426.