A gritty grandmother is calling on the public to do its bit to stamp out crime.

Daphne Simmonds made the impassioned plea this week after she was robbed of her handbag in a supermarket car park.

She said law-abiding citizens should stand as one to flush out criminals.

Her message follows closely on the heels of a similar plea made jointly through the Keighley News last week by the town's police chief and MP, in the wake of the latest murder.

Mrs Simmonds, 47, gave chase when her handbag was stolen from the front passenger seat of her car, but the assailant escaped.

She was loading shopping into her vehicle at Morrisons, in Worth Way, Keighley, at about 3.40pm on Saturday when the incident occurred.

"It all happened so quickly - this young man appeared from nowhere, opened the front passenger door, grabbed the handbag and ran off," she said. "It was over in seconds.

"I ran after him, but he jumped over a fence and went across the main road towards Coney Lane."

The black leather handbag contained £150 in cash - withdrawn from the bank just hours earlier - a cheque and bank book, cash cards, a mobile phone, gloves and an umbrella.

Mrs Simmonds, a housekeeper at Airedale Hospital, added: "I am anxious that people should know this kind of thing is happening, and to be wary.

"As a victim you get a crime number, but the effect on the individual is often not appreciated.

"I work and my partner works seven days a week. It is sickening that someone can just come along, and in a matter of a few seconds steal what you have worked so hard for.

"People have got to start standing together, and not be frightened to come forward with information about crimes."

She said several people came to her aid on Saturday, and she wished to thank them.

Anyone with information about a crime can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.