Elderly residents at a housing complex say they are living in fear after an 82-year-old woman was attacked in broad daylight.

The pensioner was mugged as she walked along Stone Hall Road in Eccleshill, Bradford, at 11.15am yesterday.

She was returning from the hairdressers when she was attacked from behind, thrown to the ground and her handbag stolen.

Shirley Harriss, 72, lives in Whitebeam Walk and heard the disturbance.

She said: "I was on the phone but I heard what was going on. I went outside and there was blood all over the pavement.

"She had a big cut to her eye and her glasses were broken. She looked so shaken up it was terrible."

Rita Halliday, 71, also a resident, called an ambulance.

"I heard groaning and ran outside to see what had happened," she said.

"She was taken to hospital and was very badly shaken up.

"The attack is a disgrace because the woman was so vulnerable."

The victim is a resident at a housing complex for elderly people, owned by the Bradford Community Housing Trust.

Mrs Harriss, who has lived there for five years, said: "This is not the first incident. There have been two others in the last three years.

"We are vulnerable here and we need additional security to protect us. We will not be safe until we have CCTV cameras put in."

She said they had requested additional security in the past but that nothing had been done.

Chris Hodgson, head of operations at North Bradford Community Housing Trust, said: "As a caring and responsible landlord we are sorry to hear of this incident which happened in one of our neighbourhoods.

"We work closely with the police and will liaise with them on this matter.

"We will also arrange for our Community Safety Officer to visit residents and discuss appropriate security measures."

Another resident, Sue Wray, who has to use a mobility scooter because of a disability, said: "There is poor lighting and lots of places for people to hide in the complex so we do feel at risk from attacks."

The suspect was described as white, in his 20s, 6ft tall, of slim build and with a pale complexion.

He was wearing a grey woolly hat with a blue stripe.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on (01274) 379259.