AN APPEAL has been made to trace a purse which was stolen when a pensioner's handbag was snatched in Bolton town centre.

The 87-year-old woman was walking along Davenport Street at 10am on February 9 when a man walking on the opposite side of the road ran over and snatched her bag. The bag contained a number of items including a distinctive purse with a Japanese design and a butterfly clasp.