A 61-year-old woman has described the moment she was thrown to the ground as someone snatched her handbag in the street.

Pearl Whitehead was walking between Milton Road, Gravesend, and Allenbrook, when the incident took place on Monday at 4.20pm.

She said: "Someone came from behind, grabbed my left arm, threw me to the ground. It was terrible."

The thief then ran back across the footbridge towards Milton Road. He was dark, slim, 5ft 8in and wearing a grey tracksuit with a hood.

Mrs Whitehead's purple Jasper Conran handbag contained two mobile phones, bank cards and £107 as well as a purse left to her by her late mother. The incident left her with grazes to her arms and legs.

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to telephone Det Con James Baker on 01474 565061.