The daughter of an 81-year-old woman whose handbag was taken as she lay in the street has revealed her mum's shocking injuries.

Great-grandmother Hilda Lee suffered bleeding on her brain, a fractured jaw on both sides, broken nose, cheekbone and eye socket.

Her daughter Margaret Lee is appealing for help tracing the person who is believed to have snatched the bag and walked off.

It happened in Penrith town centre, outside Costa on Angel Lane, at about 1.20pm on Wednesday.

Witnesses said they heard a thud and saw Mrs Lee fall face down onto the concrete path. Another older woman was then seen to pick up Mrs Lee's handbag from the floor and walk off.

Police are currently studying CCTV footage, trying to determine whether she fell or was pushed.

They are appealing for anyone with information about the incident, or the woman involved, to come forward.

Doctors at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary, where she was taken by ambulance, were yesterday deciding whether she would need surgery.

Mrs Lee said her mother - who is well known in Penrith, having run a business in the town for 40 years - was in a very bad way.

"They've done a CT scan and are monitoring the bleed on her brain. They'decided not to transfer her to Newcastle at the moment. She has a fractured wrist that has been realigned and set.

"She's had several X-rays on her jaw to see how bad it is. We are waiting to hear if she'll need surgery," she said.

She described her mother as a fit and active 81-year-old, with no real health problems aside arthritis.

Living in Great Dockray, she regularly takes a walk around the town centre to do her shopping and get some exercise.

When this happened, she had about £100 cash in her handbag, along some personal photographs and cards that would identify her.

Initially Mrs Lee said she hoped the woman in question may have handed the bag in, but that still hasn't happened.

Mrs Lee now wants to know if her mother was mugged.

"Police are going to be examining CCTV footage, but we are desperate for someone to come forward and tell us who this person was," she added.

"When I left the hospital I went back to look at where it happened. You could still see the blood on the floor. There are no loose flags or pavement she could have tripped on.

"My mum has taken a bash on the head but said she wasn't feeling ill or dizzy beforehand. She remembers walking along, then the next minute she was on the floor with people round her.

"Whatever happened, the bag has been taken. People saw that happen. She would have contact details in her purse so there's no reason it wouldn't have been handed in if it was an accident.

"Mum looks like she has done a few rounds with Mike Tyson, but is quite chirp considering what's happened. We just hope they find whoever was responsible."

Sandra Hunter was sitting outside Costa and saw the incident unfold.

She said the woman who took the bag was also an older woman, wearing a waterproof red jacket and using a walking stick.

"We heard a thud and looked up, to see her hit the ground," she said.

"This woman was right next to her. They were side by side. We thought she was with her but it turns out she wasn't.

"She used her stick to pick the bag up. Then when we looked she wasn't there. We thought she'd gone into Boots or to get help, but she never came back. She'd just walked off with the bag.

"I can't get over it. How could anyone do something like that? The woman's face was a real mess. It was just awful."


Kerryanne Wilde Her daughter Kerryanne Wilde, from Shap, was among those in the vicinity when it happened, and rushed to help.

She said she was supported by staff from the nearby Boots and Costa branches, and other passersby.

Speaking afterwards, she said: "I administered emergency first aid and supported the paramedic until the ambulance came and took her to the hospital.

"This showed me that there are many really genuine, honest, caring individuals in our community but also some real horrible nasty ones who will take advantage of any situation."

Police are investigating how Mrs Lee sustained the injuries, and the reports that her handbag was removed by a woman.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cumbria Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.