A teenager has been arrested after a pensioner suffered life changing injuries when she was dragged into an alleyway and robbed of her handbag.

Police and paramedics were called to reports of an 85-year-old woman who had been robbed in Dennett Road, Broad Green, at about 4pm on October 1.

The woman was found bleeding in the street and was taken to a south London hospital suffering injuries to her hand, face and hip.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman described her injuries as life-changing.

Police believe the victim was approached by a black man wearing a white T-shirt as she walked along the road.

The man tried to grab the handbag, which had the victims mobile phone, address book and diary inside, but she was able to hold onto it.

He then grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her into a nearby alleyway.

The force of the attack caused the woman to fall over and hit her face.

As she lay injured in the street the man snatched her bag and ran off in the direction of Lambeth Road.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery yesterday and taken to a south London police station where he remained in custody last night.

Officers from Croydon CID are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.