POLICE are hunting a robber who attacked a woman as she walked alone in Thornbury during the early hours.

The 22-year-old victim needed hospital treatment following the incident near the town's Leisure Centre shortly before 3am on Saturday.

Her hooded assailant ran up behind her and grabbed her bag containing a small amount of cash, passport, keys and other personal possessions including medical items.

He then made off towards the town centre, leaving her dazed and bleeding from a cut to the head sustained when she fell to the ground.

Her bag was later recovered from the garden of a nearby property minus items of value.

The offender is described as a white male, about 5ft 7ins tall. He was wearing a beige top with a hood.

Sgt Craig Ogborne, of Thornbury police, appealed for help to trace the attacker.

"Any robbery is very serious but an attack on a woman walking alone at night is particularly nasty," he said.

"Incidents like this are thankfully rare in Thornbury but if you're going home late it is still good advice to pre-arrange transport or at least give some thought to your route and walk with someone you trust."