Mugged 79-year-old unconscious in alley

POLICE have launched an investigation after an elderly woman was found unconscious with severe head injuries in Shaw yesterday.

Officers attended Laurel Bank Care Home at the junction of Kershaw Street and Victoria Street, at 12.15pm following reports of an injured woman lying in an alleyway leading to Elizabeth Grove.

It is believed the 79-year-old woman, who is fighting for her life, may have been robbed as a strap from her handbag was found, but not the bag.

The woman - not a resident of the care home - was taken to hospital.

Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding her injuries are ongoing. Det-Insp Jamie Daniels: “This is a distressing time for this woman’s family and we have been told she is fighting for her life.

“We think that she may have had her bag snatched from her, and either fallen in a struggle or, worse still, has been assaulted. If that is the case, we are dealing with a very serious crime indeed.

“While we are at the early stages of a detailed investigation and need to keep an open mind about what happened, I would urge anyone with information, either witnesses or people who can help this investigation, to call us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information should contact police on 0161-856 8952 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.