A pair of battling pensioners thwarted a would-be mugger in Telford when the 70-year-old woman beat him off with her umbrella while her husband laid into him with his walking stick.

The clobbered crook was forced to flee empty-handed following the botched night-time attack in Gibbons Road, Trench, and police today praised the elderly couple for their bravery.

Telford police spokesman Chris Ammonds said the couple were walking along Gibbons Road when the would-be robber approached them from the direction of Wade Road and, without warning, attempted to steal the woman’s handbag.

He added: “The man was unsuccessful in his attempts to steal the bag because the lady fought him off with her umbrella while her husband hit him with his walking stick.

“Having been thwarted in his attempts, the man fled and ran off down an alleyway towards Furnace Lane.”

Detective Constable Colin Bell, who is investigating this incident, said: “The couple were very brave in the way they fought off the offender and I’m pleased to report they were not injured during this incident.

“However, it is fair to say that both of them are quite shaken by their ordeal.”

The man, who struck at around 10.40pm on November 5, was described as white, around 5ft 11ins tall and aged around 20. He was of medium build with short, neatly cropped, dark hair and a square jaw. He wore jeans and a black T-shirt with a white gothic design.

Anyone with information, or who has suspicions about who was involved, is asked to call police on 0300 333 3000 quoting reference number 191-N-061109.