A 39-YEAR-OLD woman has told of her terrifying late-night ordeal at the hands of a robber.

The victim was forced to the ground and dragged along the pavement by a man who grabbed her bag as she walked along Christchurch Road in Bournemouth on Saturday night.

The woman, who does not wish to be named, was attacked opposite the Travelodge, near the junction with Derby Road at around midnight.

Now police have appealed for help in tracing the robber, who left his victim shaken and with cuts and bruises to her arms and legs.

She told the Daily Echo: “I had been into Bournemouth after a party and got a taxi to go to Boscombe. The taxi driver dropped me off before Boscombe because I told him I only had £4.

“As I was walking on the pavement opposite the Travelodge the man appeared in front of me and grabbed my bag. For some reason I screamed but refused to let go of the bag which resulted in me being dragged along the pavement.

“I am nearly 40 and never thought anything like this would happen to me. I am not going to be walking on my own at midnight again.”

The woman’s handbag was recovered later but a pink touch-screen Samsung phone, worth around £200, is still missing.

DC Mark White, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said: “The offender ran off along Derby Road.

“A young man chased the robber, but he was not able to catch up. This member of the public then walked away from the scene.”

The offender is described as black, aged between 20 and 30 years, between 5ft 9ins and 5ft 10 ins tall, and of a slim build.

At the time of the incident, he was wearing a grey hooded top, with the hood up, a light coloured T-shirt, dark trousers and dark shoes.

DC White added: “This was an unprovoked attack along a very busy road and I believe that a number of people may have witnessed either the robbery itself or a man running away from the scene.

“I am also appealing for the man who chased the robber to contact me urgently.

This man may have information that will help me with my investigation.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should contact Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 222222 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.