A WOMAN returning home from the shops became the sixth victim of an attempted cycle snatch attack in the past week.

The 52-year-old was walking along Beckhampton Street, close to Swindon's Civic Offices, when the thieves struck.

She was carrying bags when two teenagers on bicycles approached her, engaged her in conversation and then tried to grab her handbag.

But she held on to it with such determination that the youths cycled off towards York Road empty handed.

She fell in the struggle and suffered shock, cuts and brusing in the attack, which happened at around 5.40pm yesterday.

In a separate incident yesterday, a 73-year-old woman was mugged as she walked along Wolseley Avenue, in the town centre. She was approached by a man on a bicycle, who snatched her red shopping bag containing her purse before riding off towards Leighton Avenue.

And on Monday an 84-year-old woman was walking down Kingshill Road when a man on a bike approached her from behind and stole a bag containing a substantial amount of cash.

Witnesses should call PC Neil Hardman on Swindon 528111.