TWO men are being hunted after a pensioner was knocked unconscious and robbed of her handbag.

The incident happened in Wallsend, North Tyneside around 11.45pm on Friday.

Two men approached the 76-year-old woman while she was in Carville Road, having walked from Wallsend Metro Station.

One of the men grabbed her handbag and tried to steal it. The woman tried to stop the man however was pulled to the ground and her handbag was stolen.

She suffered a head injury after falling to the floor and was knocked unconscious. A man and woman who were in the area found her and called for an ambulance.

She was taken to North Tyneside General Hospital for treatment. She is now recovering at home and in a stable condition.

Officers are carrying out enquiries in the area, speaking to local residents and checking CCTV. Wallsend Neighbourhood Inspector Neil Armsworth said: "This is an extremely cowardly and disgusting attack on a lone elderly woman who was walking home on Friday night.

"She has been to hospital and received treatment for a head injury and thankfully she isn't too seriously injured, however the two men who left her lying unconscious in the street wouldn't have known that.

"We are carrying out enquiries into this incident and we need to find these two men who think it's acceptable to target and attack a lone 76-year-old woman.

"Unfortunately the victim was unable to give us a clear description of her attackers but we are checking CCTV in the area and speaking to local residents to try and identify those responsible.

"We believe they may have come from the direction of the A187 Hadrian Road and I'd appeal for anyone with any information that could help us with our enquiries to contact us on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference number 1530 12/06/15 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."