Maureen Barraclough is now recovering from the ordeal which happened as she walked to Sainsbury's along the old Scarborough to Whitby railway line near to Manor Road Park.

Without warning, two male youths appeared by her side, grabbed her bag and then ran off in different directions.

She chased the taller of the two boys along the track and up steps, shouting for him to "take the money" and leave her two purses.

Mrs Barraclough said: "They came just to the side of me and I was stunned for a minute. Then I realised he had taken my bag, so I ran after him."

She described the pair as "little and large" – as one of the thieves was small and the other taller.

She said: "The smaller one ran behind me and the taller one ran in front of me. That is the one I chased. My initial reaction was shock and then I was annoyed, just to think that anyone would do that."

Unfortunately Mrs Barraclough could not catch up with the youth who ran towards the Manor Road Park area.

The pensioner, who escaped unhurt, had been on her way to Sainsbury's and then into town to look for a pair of shoes.

She had taken two purses with her – one for money for the groceries and one with money in it for the shoes and her and her husband's bus passes. Both of the purses were stolen.

Mrs Barraclough said: "I never heard them coming, they must have been hiding in the bushes. I almost certain that these two will do it again."

Mrs Barraclough, who has lived in Scarborough for 20 years, said she now wanted to warn other elderly people not to walk along the railway line because she feels it is dangerous.

She added: "I do feel that I was lucky – it could have been much worse. But I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I did, so I urge everyone to be careful when they are walking alone.

"These people don't have a conscience."

Mrs Barraclough is still feeling shaken after the ordeal and said she suffered a sleepless night after the attack.

But she added: "Myself and my husband went straight back out that evening to see if we could find the purses. I am a positive person and I don't feel afraid to go out again – because if I did, then they would have won."

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident which took place on Sunday at around 3.30pm on the old railway line near to Manor Road Park.

The offenders are described as both male, aged between 15 and 19-years-old.

One of the youths was 6ft tall of slim build. He was wearing a hooded waste length jacket, coloured grey around the top and dark blue along the bottom with a red stripe. He was also wearing dark trousers and trainers.

There was no description for the other youth.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact PC 339 Duke on 0845 6060247.

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