A masked gunman attacked an elderly couple after demanding cash while they were walking to a ballroom dancing session in Dudley.

The woman, aged 64, needed hospital treatment after she was hit on the head with a gun after a struggle with the attacker. She had gone to the aid of her husband who had tried to fight off the gunman with his umbrella.

The drama happened as the couple were walking across a car park in Chapel Street, Quarry Bank. They were on their way to the town’s Conservative Club in High Street, for a ballroom dance session.

A robber wearing a balaclava confronted them brandishing the firearm and shouting at them to hand over cash.

The woman was taken to Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital and needed stitches for a one-inch gash.

Detective inspector Will O’Connor from Halesowen police described the attack as “particularly nasty”.

He said: “Street robberies are usually teenager on teenager but here we have an elderly couple targeted.

“They were walking across the car park when a man wearing a balaclava emerged brandishing a gun and shouting ‘give us your money.’

“The couple were very brave to try and fight off their attacker bearing in mind he had a gun making him potentially very dangerous. This was a traumatic ordeal for the couple – I would urge anyone with information to get in touch.”

Mr O’ Connor said the gunman grabbed the woman’s bag which contained a pair of dance shoes and a pair of glasses.

The attacker fled on foot in the direction of Maughan Street following the assault on Saturday at 7pm.