A PENSIONER is recovering after a violent robbery.

The 87-year-old woman suffered a dislocated shoulder and head injuries in the incident in Kent Road North, Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The robbery took place at about 3.50pm on Thursday.

The woman got off a bus outside St Wilfrid's Church, in Duchy Road.

She walked about 300 yards and was standing in the driveway of a house in Kent Road North with a friend when a car pulled up.

A man got out and snatched her handbag, causing her to fall to the floor.

Police were called and the pensioner was taken to Harrogate District Hospital, where she was still being treated yesterday.

A police spokesman said: "Harrogate Police are extremely anxious to bring to justice the man responsible for this frightening and brutal attack."

Officers believe the attacker may have followed the pensioner when she got off the bus.

He is white, aged between 30 and 40, 5ft 10in, with a medium build.

The car was medium-sized, in poor condition and either dark blue or grey.

It had a rounded back and a registration ending in WRR.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on (01423) 539334.