An elderly woman was pushed to the ground by a thief who stole her handbag in a church.

The victim, in her eighties, was left severely shaken after her bag, containing cash and credit cards, was snatched in St Mary's Church, Church Street, Eastbourne.

The attacker left the pensioner sprawled on the floor as he fled the 12th Century church in the Old Town area of Eastbourne, close to where the victim lives.

It is believed the pensioner was helping with flower arranging at the church.

Detectives searching for the offender today said it was a totally unprovoked attack on a frail pensioner.

Detective Constable Mark Castle, of Eastbourne CID, said: "This attack on a defenceless, elderly woman was vicious and cowardly, particularly as it happened within a church, an area where she felt safe."

In a separate incident, a 57-year-old woman from Mayfield suffered a sprained ankle after being knocked to the ground as a thief snatched her bag outside the Old Forge cookshop in Station Approach, Heathfield.

Detectives are particularly keen to trace a man who noted the registration number of the getaway vehicle and handed it to nearby shop staff.

Detective Sergeant Paul Phelps said: "This man has already been a great help in police inquiries.

"He was unable to wait at the scene but we believe he may have important information about this incident.

"We are not officially linking these two bag snatches at this stage as inquiries are continuing."

Det Con Neil Fordham, leading the investigation, said: "This kind of crime, committed in broad daylight, is particularly sickening for any victim."

The church offender was in his mid twenties, with short dark hair, a moustache and a gold hoop in each ear.