A GREAT grandmother was shocked to find closed circuit TV cameras were not working when she was robbed while on a shopping trip in Swindon.

When Joan Barrie, 76, had her wallet and purse taken from her handbag in the town centre, she thought there was a good chance that cameras nearby would show who the culprit was.

But she later discovered the cameras were not operating.

Mrs Barrie, of Moredon, said: "I feel terribly let down. What's the good of cameras if they're not working?

"This has really shaken me up, and made me feel ill.

"I had just taken £200 out of my bank to pay my rent and council tax.

"I only had the money for about 20 minutes.

"They got my bank card, purse and cheque book. The lot.

"They've left me penniless and I don't stand a chance of getting anything back.

"Other people need to be aware the cameras aren't working."

At first Mrs Barrie believed that when a policeman told her CCTV cameras were not in working order, she thought he meant the cameras outside in the busy shopping street.

But this comment was clarified by a police spokeswoman, who was quick to reassure the public that these do work.

He was referring to surveillance cameras inside a shop.

Mrs Barrie has three daughters in Swindon, eight grandchildren and four great-grand- children.

Her husband Charles died 12 years ago.

She was in Shoe Zone in Regent Street when the purse and wallet were taken, looking at trainers she could wear to a Neil Diamond concert.

She said: "I got the money from the bank and walked round the corner to Shoe Zone.

"I thought I'd look at some cheap trainers.

"It must have happened while I bent down to try the trainers on.

"They went into my handbag and took the wallet and purse."

Andrea Benjamin, assistant manager at Shoe Zone, said: "Our cameras don't work.

"I'm not sure how long they haven't worked."

A spokeswoman for Swindon police said that anyone with information about the incident should telephone 01793 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Dave Andrew