FOUR schoolboys have earned the thanks of a mugger's victim - and the praise of the police.

The 11-year-olds turned sleuths after a woman was mugged on her way to church, only yards away from where they were playing.

Music teacher Christine Purvis, a well-known figure at the Stockton and Middlesbrough music festivals, was the victim of a bag snatcher as she approached St John the Baptist church, Egglescliffe, Teesside, along a graveyard path.

She was aware of someone walking towards her and had slightly stepped to one side when her handbag was tugged from her grasp.

"It was so quick,'' said Mrs Purvis. "The sun was in my eyes, but the boys were just playing across the road and he (the thief) ran off, going more or less towards them.''

The mugger got into what may be a red Vauxhall Corsa car which was waiting for him, a driver at the wheel.

The boys looked up as Mrs Purvis shouted "stop, thief!" and one of the youngsters ran for some distance after the car.

Mrs Purvis said: "They were lovely, very helpful, supportive and sensible.

Canon Tim Ollier, rector at St John the Baptist, said: "The four boys had noticed not so much what happened but a young man running towards a car in Butts Lane and driving off.

"They were very observant and were able to give a very coherent account of what they saw.

"And they waited around for an hour or so for the police to come. In a sense, they were showing care and concern for their fellow human beings.''

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "This was a frightening attack on this lady and if it was not for the young boys the police would not have been able to obtain such good witnesses and a description of the assailant.

"Hopefully, this will assist the police in arresting the offenders.''

Mrs Purvis was shocked but not hurt by her ordeal.