A GRANDMOTHER has told how she was punched in the face and had her wedding and engagement rings stolen from her hand just yards from her home.

Susan Mitchell, 45, was on her way home from work as a cleaner when the vicious thug pounced.

He stopped her at the entrance to Westfields in South Moor, Stanley, County Durham, at about 6.45pm on Friday night.

Mrs Mitchell said: “This lad came bombing towards me. He ran up to me and had me by the throat. He asked if I had any money, and I said ‘no’.

“I went to take his hand off my neck and he saw my rings on my hand and took them off and that is when he whacked me in the face and ran off.

“I am not as bothered about the punch. I just want my rings back. They mean a lot. The engagement ring has just been replaced and I only got it at Christmas.”

Mrs Mitchell, who has six children and three grandchildren, was left with a large bruise to her right cheek where the man hit her.

She said: “I have not gone out of the house since. I hope he gives himself up and gives me my stuff back and nobody else gets hurt.”

Mrs Mitchell lives with Stewy, her husband of eight years, near where she was attacked, and he is offering a cash reward of £1,000 for information that will help identify his wife’s attacker.

The 47-year-old said: “This shows he is not bothered about how much force he has got to use.

“Anybody that knows anything should come forward. This could be an old person who could have been killed. He needs to be stopped and he needs to be stopped quickly. This man is a thug.”

Both rings are made of white gold and police have launched an investigation.

The robber, who was wearing a scarf covering part of his face, dark clothing and a hooded top, is described as between 18 and 25 years old, about 5ft 10ins tall and of chubby build.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Stanley CID via the non-emergency number 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.