THIS is the shocking moment a cowardly thug robbed a pensioner on her doorstep.

The CCTV footage shows two men follow 79-year-old Jane Campbell before one of them grabs at her handbag and pulls her to the ground.

The disturbing attack can be seen 50 seconds into the video released by police.

Police say the woman, who was returning from the chemist's where she had picked up a prescription on May 14, was followed home by two men.

The Bolton News first reported the attack last month. Now police have released CCTV footage of the incident.

Mrs Campbell, a retired employee of Rumbelows, has lived in Deane with her long-term partner for nearly 30 years.

Last month, she told The Bolton News: “I had only been out about half an hour when it happened.

“I was returning from the doctors when I felt somebody put their hand on my shoulder then take my bag.

“My sweater had a lot of blood on afterwards. I am a bit of a fighter and I can’t give in to this.

“It is one of those things that has happened and I want to get over it — you can’t keep a good girl down. It happened quickly. They didn’t say anything to me.”

As she arrived at her home in Anglia Grove she was grabbed and spun round, causing her to fall and hit her face on the floor.

The robbers stole her handbag and ran off down Bankfield Street.

The victim suffered cuts and bruises but no more serious injuries although the incident left her "shocked", according to police.

She had spotted two men while walking along Willows Lane, near the junction with Bankfield Street, at 11.45am.

One was standing at the bus stop while another was in the road.

One man is described as in his late teens, 5ft 3in tall, slim to medium build, with black hair and wearing a royal blue top.

The other is described as being slightly taller than the first, of medium build and wearing a grey hooded top with the hood up.

The stolen bag was later found and nothing had been taken.

DC David Fox said: “From what we have been told, we believe the offenders were the same people who were seen by the bus stop and in the road.

“The elderly lady has simply made a trip to her local chemist to pick up her prescription and walked home.

"Unknowingly to her, she was followed. It is an absolute disgrace these cowardly men have targeted her in such a way and we are determined to find them.

“She was spun around in such a force, she fell, hitting the floor with her face.

"Luckily, she only suffered cuts and bruises but she has understandably been left shocked this robbery has happened outside her home."

A week later, a grandmother was knocked off her mobility scooter by a robber who repeatedly apologised — before running off with more than £200.

The 74-year-old woman was approached from behind in Ernest Street, near to Back Park Road, Bolton, at 11.30am on Wednesday, May 21.

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 5757 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.