A WOMAN fought off a robber who tried to steal her handbag.

The attack happened as the 57-year-old woman was walking home along Cannon Street, Bolton, at around 10pm on Saturday.

A man ran up to her and tried to grab her handbag from her shoulder.

They struggled for several seconds before the thug gave up and fled along nearby Peace Street.

The victim was left with a sore arm and a stiff neck.

The robber was Asian, aged between 15 and 17, around 5ft 5ins tall, slim, wearing a hooded top with broad blue and white horizontal stripes and dark trousers.

He was with three other Asian men of a similar description.