AN elderly woman is recovering in hospital after two teenage girls attempted to snatch her handbag in Darlington.

The girls, believed to be in their mid-teens, tried to grab the pensioner's handbag as she walked along Woodland Road, near Squires Court, yesterday afternoon.

The 77-year-old refused to let go of the bag and the would-be robbers fled empty-handed. The woman fell against railings during the struggle and was admitted to Middlesbrough General Hospital with injuries to her arm.

A police spokesman said: "This brave 77-year-old put a bit of a fight up. They didn't get away with anything. But she has suffered serious injuries to her arm."

Witnesses to incident, which took place at 2.30pm, are asked to contact police on (01325) 467681.