POLICE are hunting a man who asked an 80-year-old woman for a favour- and then stole £100 from her purse.

The thief approached the pensioner as she neared the junction of Front Street and Back Lane in Thirsk, at around noon yesterday.

He asked her if she had change for the phone and as she looked for change the man distracted her and stole £100 in £20 notes from the purse.

The only description of the thief is that he was clean-shaven and spoke with a foreign accent. He was driving an unwashed pick-up style vehicle.

PC Lindsey Midgley said: “This is an utterly despicable offence against a vulnerable member of our community.

“I urge anyone who witnessed the theft or knows anything about the thief who committed it to contact me immediately.”

Contact PC Midgley at Thirsk police station on 0845 6060 247 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.