A woman told last night how she battled with a robber as he tried to snatch her handbag.

The victim fell in the road and the man ran off.

The attack happened near allotments in Somerset Road, Aspley, at 5.30am on Thursday.

And Huddersfield detectives have now linked it to another incident which happened less than two hours earlier.

In the Somerset Road incident the 53-year-old woman was helped by passers-by who chased her attacker who ran off with her handbag.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “I was walking to work the same way I’ve done for years and this man seemed to come out of nowhere in front of me.

“I thought he wanted to get past so I moved to the left but instead he went to my right and tried to grab my handbag.

“It all happened so fast but all that was going through my mind was I didn’t want him to get it.

“It wasn’t about money or bank cards. I was more worried about my husband’s car keys and our house keys.

“We struggled for it and at one point I thought I had it in my grasp then I fell into the road and he ran off.

“A man who was behind me helped chase him and then came and checked I was all right.

“I had a cut to my eye, a black eye and bruising on my knees but I think it happened in the struggle. I am pretty sure he didn’t punch me.”

She praised the passer-by who helped her and a nearby resident who let her use her phone to call police.

Earlier it is believed the same man approached a 19-year-old woman in Damside Road, Newsome, at 3.45am.

He asked for directions and a cigarette before snatching her handbag.

The man ran off with the bag in the direction of the footbridge leading to Colne Road.

The man is described as white, between 5ft5in and 5ft7in tall , slim, wearing a blue jumper and dark trousers.

He spoke with a local accent.

Officers are keeping an open mind as to whether these offences are linked due to the close proximity and similar descriptions.

Anyone who witnessed either of these incidents or believes they may have seen a man matching either of the descriptions is asked to call Det Con Nicola Keitch in the Kirklees Robbery Team on the non emergency number 101.

Alternatively, information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555