Woman, 80, robbed of pension

An 80-year-old woman was knocked to the ground by a robber who stole hundreds of pounds including her pension and her husband's lottery winnings.

The attack in West Bromwich follows a similar mugging in the town.

Less than two weeks ago, Nancy Reeve, aged 90, was left battered and bruised in a daylight robbery as she walked to the tram stop.

In the latest incident, Kathleen Dirden was targeted as she walked back from the Post Office through Hill Top park as she made her way to her home.

The grandmother-of-two lost around £400 in the bag theft at around 11.40am last Tuesday, including both her own and her 78-year-old husband Ronald's pension payments as well as an £80 windfall which her husband had won for getting four numbers on the National Lottery.

Mrs Dirden, who did not want to be photographed for fear of reprisals, said she was shocked at the attack.

"He pushed me on to the grass so I hurt my shoulder," she said. "It is the first time this has happened to me.

"I will never come through the park again. I hope it will put other people on their guard and make them think twice before they come through there."

Wednesbury South ward councillor Michael Middleton said it was feared the culprits waited around knowing that elderly people would be collecting their pension payments.