A 73-YEAR-OLD pensioner has described how she beat off a potential mugger by hitting him over the head with her umbrella.

Norah McGuckin, who was praised by the police for her bravery, stood her ground when a thief tried to grab her purse.

After receiving several whacks over the head, the mugger fled empty-handed.

Mrs McGuckin said last night: "I am glad I clouted him. I am not that brave normally, but he had no business to be taking my purse."

The retired office manager had been on her way back from church in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, at 10.30am on Sunday.

She said: "I bought a paper and tucked it under my arm with my little black church purse."

As she turned into Middle Chare, at the Butchers Arms pub, she saw a red car.

Mrs McGuckin said: "I noticed there were some bollards at the end of the road and was wondering how he was going to get out when a young man came trotting from the car towards me.

"He tried to grab my purse and I whacked him over the head with my open umbrella. He was dumbfounded and looked startled.

"When he turned around, I thought he was going to have another go at me and I brandished my umbrella at him like a demented soul.

"I said to him 'You bad 'un. Get off me. Go away.' When he had gone, I started to shake."

Chester-le-Street Community Inspector Paul Anderson said: "It was very brave of Mrs McGuckin. Her actions have obviously prevented what could have been a more serious offence."

Inspector Anderson said the car, a Vauxhall Nova, was believed to have been involved in an incident 20 minutes later in West Terrace, Durham, when a youth reached out of the window and grabbed a handbag off a pensioner.

The suspect was about 17, slim and was wearing jeans and a navy top.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 60 60 365.