Woman attacked walking to church

The woman was on her way to St Columb's on Chapel Road

A 50-year-old woman has been attacked while walking to church in Londonderry.

A man grabbed Patricia Doherty from behind while she was walking to St Columb's on Chapel Road and tried to snatch her handbag on Monday.

She held on to it but was pulled to the ground. The man then dragged her into an nearby alleyway.

After a brief struggle, the man ran off, empty-handed, towards Spencer Road. Mrs Doherty said she had a lucky escape.

"It happened so quickly," she said.

"It seemed like forever but it was probably only seconds - you just get on and you try and get out of it.

"I was actually shaking, I was actually more scared when I came out of the alleyway and I realised what had happened."