Two handbags were snatched from shoppers.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the handbags were taken in two separate thefts on Sunday morning.

The first occurred at around 8.40am on Sunday in Station Road, when an unidentified elderly woman was walking along the road and approached by a man on a bicycle.

He grabbed her handbag but was stopped by members of the public who managed to recover the bag, but the man managed to escape.

Then at around 9.15am a second victim, a woman in her 20s, was sitting on a bench outside Cash Converters in Shenley Road when she was approached by a man who grabbed her handbag and ran along an alleyway into Brownlow Road.

The victim ran after him but lost sight of him in this road.

The man is described as a white, aged between 19 and 25, and of slim build, with short blonde hair and was wearing a grey top and khaki trousers.

PC Kevin Hendrick is investigating. He said: “At this stage we are treating the incidents as linked and we would like to identify the person responsible as quickly as possible.

“It appears neither victim was injured, but the victim of the first incident has not made contact with police and I would urge them to come forward so we can fully investigate the incident. If this was you, or you know who this was, please call me.

“We would also like to identify any witnesses to either incident as they happened during the morning when there may have been a number of people around. If anyone saw anything suspicious, or believe they know the identity of the man, please contact me straight away.”

Anyone with any information in relation to either of the incidents should contact PC Hendrick via Hertfordshire Constabulary’s non-emergency number 101.