A TERRIFIED grandmother-of-five said she is still having flashbacks after she was punched in the face and hit with a hammer in an attempted robbery.

Deirdre Reynard, 49, was sat on the drivers' side of her blue Ford Focus at Weaverthorpe Retail Park, Tong, waiting for her partner when the suspect struck.

The suspect opened her passenger door and attempted to steal her black leather handbag off the passenger seat.

He hit Miss Reynard with the hammer on her left wrist and arm, her right arm and then on her right hand, causing bruising. He then punched her in the face but she said he did not injure her with this blow.

She said the attack, which took place at around 5pm on Wednesday, January 6, only lasted for a couple of minutes before a pregnant woman, who was outside Wyndsors World of Shoes' shop at the retail park spotted the attacker and alerted shop staff to what she saw. This lead to him running off before he was caught.

Mother-of-four Miss Reynard, of Charteris Road, Lower Grange, said: "I was shocked. I was numb. I did not feel him hit me with the hammer.

"I could not even scream. I was frozen.

"It was so quick. It only lasted for a minute or so.

"After he went I started crying. I could not believe what had happened.

"He banged on the car and went to have a look inside. I had my arm around my handbag.

"My mobile phone was on view but he never touched it. My handbag had my purse in it, which only had a few pounds, and some receipts."

She added the attack has given her nightmares since and left her on tenterhooks until the man is caught.

Miss Reynard said she has been unable to go back to work as a sales assistant at Morrisons Enterprise 5 store in Idle.

She added: "It has given me nightmares, I haven't slept much since. I'm having flashbacks. I'm terrified.

"I'm on tenterhooks.

"I only got up to my daughter's house. I don't go anywhere on my own.

"I just hope they catch him because the next time it could be worse."

Police have released an e-fit image of the suspect they would like to trace in connection with the attempted robbery.

The suspect is described as white, mid to late 20s, average build and about 5ft 10in.

He was clean shaven with dirty blond hair and had a couple of teeth missing in his upper jaw.

He was wearing a light grey hooded top with a blue horizontal stripe and spoke with a local accent.

Detailed enquiries are ongoing and a 30-year-old man has been released on bail.

Anyone with information should call DC 2968 Cowling at Bradford District CID on 101.