A BRAVE grandmother says she will not let a terrifying street robbery stop her from going out.

Frail Lily Walsh — who uses a shopping trolley to help her walk — was on her way back from Morrisons in the town centre on Saturday morning when she was attacked by a young woman.

The 91-year-old was punched in the face by the attacker in Moor Lane — who asked her if she had change for £20 then snatched her purse.

Mr Walsh said: "The police have said to me 'don't let her win' — and that is what will happen if I stop going out.

"It's not going to keep me indoors — I am still going out.

"I hope my attacker gets what she deserves. It was cowardly and I think she is scum. I hope she has no luck in the world. She needs to be shown up for what she has done."

The pensioner — who cares full-time for her husband — fell into some bushes which helped her avoid a more serious injury.

Mrs Walsh said she had been planning to go to Argos after doing her shopping on Saturday — and was carrying more money than usual — but headed home early because of pain from her sciatica.

The ordeal has left Mrs Walsh very upset — and she still cries when she thinks about the attack.

But she is refusing to let the mugging stop her from going about her daily life.

Mrs Walsh said: "I am very independent and call at Morrisons three times a week.

"I am always out early as I have to be back for my husband Eddie. I was going to go to Argos but then I got this pain in my knee and thought I had better get myself home.

"That's when it happened. I saw her approaching and I thought she looked quite decent.

"That was my mistake. When she said she wanted the money changing I got my purse out and she just hit out.

“My balance is not very good — that’s why I use the trolley, like a bit of a zimmer, when I go out.

“I fell back into the bushes and did not go over. If I had it could have been a lot worse.

"My husband has been shocked by it all. When I came back with two police officers, he thought I had done something wrong."

The couple has lived in the block of flats for more than 30 years, having been brought up in Breightmet.

They have been married for 69 years, and have a son, a daughter, who died a few years ago, and three grandchildren.

Mrs Walsh said: "It has really affected me. I am shaken up and my asthma has got worse. I can't believe it — I was crying for most of Monday."

Christine Chadwick, who lives nearby, looked after Mrs Walsh on Saturday after the robbery.

She said: "It is cruel and horrible. It could have been my mother and it infuriates me. We were so angry on Saturday when we saw what had happened to Lily."

Gail Barber, who works at Mrs Walsh's local paper shop, said: "She is a lovely lady. She is so frail and looks after her husband. It is just horrendous.

"It is absolutely shocking. When she came in to the shop on Monday morning I said to her 'well done for still coming out today' and she said 'I won't let her stop me'."

Det Insp Martin Reddington said: “Targeting an elderly lady in this way is a contemptible and cowardly thing to do and I would urge anyone who knows the identity of the person responsible to call us.

“Fortunately, the woman was not seriously injured but she is understandably extremely distressed by what happened."

The attacker is described as white, of slim build, wearing a grey woollen bob hat, grey bottoms and a short, dark coloured coat.

No arrests have yet been made.

Anyone with information should phone police on 0161 856 5608 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.