A WOMAN suffered a blow to the head when a thief snatched her handbag in York. The woman, aged in her forties, was walking to work on Friday morning (December 27) along the footpath in Haxby Road, opposite Clarence Gardens, when a cyclist rode up behind her and pulled the bag from her shoulder. As a result of the theft, she fell and hit her head on a wall, while the suspect rode off towards the city.The bag is described as a green PVC satchel with an owl design and has a lime green shoulder strap. It contained personal items including a mobile phone and bank cards. Police have appealed to anyone who was in Haxby Road yesterday morning and witnessed the robbery to phone them on 101.

Tickets have gone on sale for the Lord Mayor of York’s annual charity ball. The event will be held at York Racecourse on February 15. There will be a drinks reception, three course dinner, live band and disco. The event will raise money for IDAS York, which helps victims of domestic abuse and the Jack Raine Community Foundation, which helps vulnerable children and young people. Tickets cost £50 per person and can be booked online at; www.shelovesyork.co.uk/events/lordmayorsball/