POLICE are appealing for information after an elderly woman was robbed in broad daylight in Kilwinning.

At around 3.45pm an 83-year-old woman left her house in Hawthorn Place Sheltered Housing Complex, to say goodbye to her niece, and when she turned to go back inside, she noticed a man who was unknown to her standing outside with a bicycle.

The woman then entered her home and discovered that her handbag containing her purse and personal items had been taken.

The suspect is described as a white man in his 40s who was wearing a dark coloured hat and dark clothing. He made off from the scene on a pedal bike.

Detective Sergeant Martin Prendergast from Saltcoats CID said: “I would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Hawthorn Place around 3.45pm on Sunday and may have noticed a man matching the above description, or anything at all suspicious, to please get in touch.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Saltcoats CID via 101, quoting incident number 2524 of Sunday 25 November 2018. Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.”