A 65-year-old woman who was mugged in a supermarket car park has criticised the lack of CCTV cameras outside the store.

The pensioner, from Kennington, who does not want to be named, was at the Sainsbury's store in Heyford Hill, Oxford, at lunchtime on Sunday when a man on a mountain bike tried to snatch her handbag.

She had just packed her shopping into her car when the man, wearing a hood and with a scarf covering his face, came up behind her.

She said: "He grabbed me. He was very strong.

"I was hanging on to the handles of my bag and he pulled me along until the other customers, who could see what was happening, gave chase. He let go, turned the bike round and somehow managed to escape."

The woman said she was very shaken after the incident and reported the attempted robbery to the police.

She also called on Sainsbury's to ensure there was full CCTV coverage of the car park a call the store has said it will consider.

She added: "I know cameras wouldn't have caught his face, but the bike was very distinctive.

"These people are lying in wait and obviously looking for the more vulnerable people.

"Luckily, it was a Sunday and there were young couples so all the young men gave chase, but it wouldn't be like that on a Monday."

The would-be mugger is described as about 15-years-old, wearing an off-white hooded jacket and a light-coloured scarf, and riding a blue mountain bike.

A Sainsbury's spokesman said the shop had three CCTV cameras, including one overlooking the car park.

She said: "We take offences like this very seriously.

"We are always looking at ways to improve security and would consider bringing in extra CCTV cameras in the car park both for our customers and staff."

She added that the store manager would be happy to discuss the situation further with the woman.

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened at 1.30pm, should call Thames Valley Police on 08548 505 505, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.