A pensioner suffered a broken hip after being dragged to the floor by a man trying to steal her handbag.

The incident happened at about 11.35am last Tuesday when 72-year-old Phylis Regan was walking along a snicket between Terrington Crescent and Pentland Avenue in Clayton, Bradford.

Detective Inspector Sheridan Moore, of Toller Lane CID, said: "At least one male ran up from behind her and tried to snatch her handbag. She fell to the ground and he didn't get the handbag. She broke her hip and suffered heart problems anyway so it could have been even more serious than it already was.

"She was taken to hospital by ambulance after a passer-by alerted them and is now in Bradford Royal Infirmary where her condition is described as being stable. They haven't yet been able to operate on her hip because of her condition."

He said two people had been questioned about the incident and had been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

He said Mrs Regan was in the Co-op in Station Road, Clayton, before the attack and from there had caught a bus which took her down Pasture Lane, where she got off.

The man who pulled her over was described as wearing a white or light coloured jacket, possibly with a red or dark-coloured band on the bottom of it.

"You may have seen Mrs Regan being followed or a person or people acting suspiciously," said Det Insp Moore. "If you were in the area at the time and did see something suspicious, please call us on (01422) 376259 or 376285."