A pensioner is warning shoppers to be on their guard after a young boy tried to steal her handbag from her trolley.

The 76-year-old woman was in the sweets aisle of Asda, in Brighton Marina, on Tuesday at about 2pm, when a woman asked her if she thought the peppers she was holding were quite strong.

The pensioner, who lives on the outskirts of Brighton, turned away from her trolley for a few seconds to look and when she turned back a young boy of about eight was trying take her handbag.

She said: "It was just such a shock to me really. I thought about it as I walked round and thought they were definitely trying to take my bag.

"I had only turned away for a second when they tried it but they just walked away calmly and I thought they had perhaps done it before.

"I just want other people to be careful because if it's young boys doing it, people might not realise."

The victim said she had not reported it to the police but had told staff at the store.

Inspector Michael Pollitt, of Sussex Police Senior Crime Prevention, said it was more unusual for distraction robberies to take place in Brighton.

He said: "The simple advice stands about never putting your handbag in the trolley or hanging it on the end and not putting it down at the checkout. Always keep the handbag at the front rather than at the back."

A spokesman for Asda said the store had 24-hour security which was very good but it was very difficult to spot people causing problems.