POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a second drive-by mugging in Hampshire in less than a month.

Officers in Eastleigh are investigating after the driver of a red van mounted a pavement in Chandler's Ford and snatched the bag of an elderly woman before speeding off.

The attack took place at 9am on Wednesday, as the 77-year-old pensioner was walking near the Hiltingbury Shopping Parade in Hiltingbury Road.

The mugging comes four weeks after Hampshire Constabulary joined forces with officers in Dorset to investigate similar incidents which occurred within 24 hours of each other.

Last month an 84-year-old woman in Otterbourne had her bag stolen by a drive-by mugger who mounted the pavement in Coles Mede.

The attack, at 9.30am on Monday, March 13, was similar to one a day earlier in Westbourne, Bournemouth, when an 83-year-old pensioner was mugged by a motorist at around midday as she walked home from church.