Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman’s necklaces were taken during a robbery.

On Friday, January 16, at around 9.15pm, a 43-year-old local woman was walking home alone from the Herbert Pub in Stoke, after attending a funeral that day.

She was approached by a man as she was walking across the rear courtyard which runs between Herbert Street and the Keat Street flats.

The suspect grabbed her and ripped three gold necklaces, worth over £300, from her neck.

The woman shouted and screamed and bravely attempted to fight back against her attacker.

She was then pushed to the floor and the suspect ran off with the necklaces, which measure 12 inches, 20 inches and 30 inches.

The victim suffered slight hand and chest injuries and was left shaken as a result of the incident.

The suspect is described as white, in his mid 20s, 5ft 7ins, of slim build. He was wearing a black zip-fronted jacket.

Detective Constable John-Paul Eccles, based at Devonport police station, said: “I would like to stress that this is a very unusual incident for Stoke but residents should be vigilant.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the robbery or saw a man matching the description in the area at the time.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference CR/003812/15, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org