A PENSIONER was grabbed around the head in a "frightening" attempted robbery outside a supermarket.

Police said the 71-year-old woman was walking towards Tesco in Eagle Street, Accrington, when she noticed a man on the floor seemingly unconscious.

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The woman, who is from Accrington, attempted to wake the man, and initially he did not respond.

Police said the attacker then got up, grabbed the victim in a headlock and demanded she handed over her handbag.

The attacker then stopped and ran away from the store.

Police have issued a witness appeal following the attempted robbery which happened around 9pm on Friday, October 7.

The suspect is described as white, aged 18, 5ft 2ins tall, of slim build, with short dark hair. He was wearing dark clothing.

PC Kasim Hussain, of Blackburn Police, said: “This was clearly a very frightening and distressing ordeal for the victim who was attempting to help someone she thought needed assistance.

“She has been left very shaken and worried and we need to find the person responsible.

“We are appealing to anyone who was in the area around the time of the offence to contact police. We are particularly keen to speak to a woman who came to the victim’s aid.

“If you saw someone behaving suspiciously outside the store or witnessed the incident, please call 101.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting crime reference ED1615446.