TWO 83-YEAR-OLD women were robbed of their handbags in an underpass in Toothill.

The women were walking between Beaumaris Road and Tewkesbury Way when they were robbed by two men.

One of the victims, who asked not to be named, struggled with one of the thieves.

She said: "He grabbed the handles of my bag, but I held on. I was trying to drag it back off him, but he was stronger than me.

"Then he pushed me to the ground."

The woman, who was heading to the Asda supermarket at the West Swindon District Centre at the time, spoke of her anger at what had happened.

She said: "If I could catch him I would kick his backside so hard he wouldn't be able to sit down for 20 years.

"I hope his parents disown him. I hurt my back when I was pushed to the floor, and it is very painful.

"I'm not going to let this deter me from going out, though. My friend is very shaken up by this, but I will make sure she is okay.

"She was screaming when it happened."

The woman's bag was recovered by a cyclist soon after the incident, which happened at 9.15am on Saturday.

The thief dropped it near the pond at the West Swindon District Centre after the cyclist chased him on his bike.

The woman's friend was not so lucky, and the second thief made off with her bag in the opposite direction, towards Beaumaris Road.

Both women were taken to Great Western Hospital for check-ups.

They were shocked, but were otherwise uninjured.

Both offenders were white and in their late teens or early 20s.

One wore a white baseball cap, a dark coloured anorak, dark trousers and white trainers.

They were sitting on the floor of the underpass and police hope other pedestrians may have seen them.

Officers also want to get in touch with the cyclist.

They hope he will be able to help them identify the offenders.

Detective Constable Paul Drever, of Swindon police, said: "This was an extremely nasty incident and the two ladies are extremely upset.

"Someone must have seen the men in the underpass before the incident and we would urge witnesses to contact us."

Anybody with information is asked to call Swindon police on 01793 528111.