A partially-sighted pensioner is recovering today after she was mugged in broad daylight.

The 79-year-old woman, who has not been named, was left shocked but unhurt after her handbag was snatched.

She was walking on a footpath which runs from the Old Shoreham Road to the Sainsbury's superstore in Hangleton, Hove, when the assailant pounced.

The victim told police she heard footsteps behind her as she walked along the path, which runs through playing fields alongside the busy Hangleton Link Road. She felt the mugger grab her handbag and immediately let go of it to avoid being injured.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the robbery, which happened shortly after 5pm on Saturday.

Sergeant Richard Delacourt said: "The victim is partially-sighted and was unable to give us a description of the assailant.

"She did the right thing in not trying to keep hold of her handbag and by doing so avoided possible injury.

"The bag contained about £50 in cash and her house keys. She is concerned that the suspect now has her keys and knows her address.

"We were able to get her back into her home on Saturday and she is now having the locks changed."