A WOMAN was robbed and threatened with a cosh as she visited her mother's grave -- just weeks after a grandmother was attacked in the same cemetery.

Iris Clayton, aged 55, was tending the grave of her mother Cynthia Parden-Bell at Heaton Cemetery when a man smashed her car window and grabbed her handbag from the seat.

When she walked over he threatened her with a cosh before jumping into a waiting car, leaving Mrs Clayton, from Warrington, badly shaken.

Mrs Clayton was born and brought up in the Johnson Fold area and regularly returns to Bolton to visit the grave of her mother, who died four years ago from ovarian cancer.

Just three weeks ago Jean Fitton, aged 72, from Halliwell, was attacked as she visited her grand-daughter Marina's grave at the same cemetery off Overdale Drive.

The latest attack, by a lone man, happened between noon and 12.25pm on Wednesday, around half an hour earlier than the last attack.

The thief who threatened Mrs Clayton escaped in a waiting turquoise or blue car -- driven by a white woman aged in her early 20s with long brown hair which had been tied back.

Det Con Simon Murphy, of Bolton Police, said: "This woman was brave in confronting the thief, but personal safety is more important than losing your belongings.

"Fortunately the victim was not injured, but she was left very shaken by what happened.

"If anyone who was in the cemetery at the time saw what happened, or can help identify the man, I would ask them to contact us."

The man police are hunting is described as white, aged between 20 and 25, around 5ft 11ins tall, slim, wearing a brown woolly hat and a blue sweat shirt.The cemetery car park is monitored by cameras. Three people are facing charges in connection with the first attack on Mrs Fitton.

A spokesman for Bolton Council, which is responsible for the cemetery, said: "This appears to be a particularly mean and despicable theft on someone at a vulnerable time.

"We can only urge people to be vigilant. Police do regularly patrol the cemetery and of course our own staff are working in and around areas of the cemetery."

Anyone with information is asked to ring Astley Bridge CID on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers on free phone 0800 555 111.