Police are appealing for witnesses following the mugging of a 55-year-old woman in Friern Barnet.

The thief snatched the handbag from the victim at 3.40pm on February 19, in Bellevue Road, before knocking her to the ground and escaping in what is believed to be a darkly coloured Vauxhall Astra, parked at the nearby junction with The Crescent.

The suspect is described as a 25-year-old black woman, around 5ft 6in tall and wearing a grey jacket.

The victim, who did not want to be identified, said she was "horrified" by what had occurred.

She said: "The woman ran towards me saying, 'excuse me'. I thought she was asking for help, then she grabbed my bag. We struggled and I fell against the gate, bruising my arm. She wrenched the bag from me and ran down the street.

"I'm horrified that something like this could happen in daylight in a quiet street. I'm now terrified every time I come home in case it happens again."

Anyone with any information about this crime should contact police on 0208 200 1212, quoting reference 2403891/08.