British Transport Police officers are appealing for information after man snatched a handbag and ran from a train at Hayle.

Officers are trying to trace a potential witness following the theft, saying a number of people saw the alleged offence happen, including one who seemed to know his name.

The incident took place on board a Glasgow - Penzance CrossCountry service on Thursday, July 17.

PC Bob Edwards said: “The victim, a retired woman from the Penzance area, boarded the train at Bristol Temple Meads at 6.44pm. She sat in a forward-facing window seat reading her kindle with her bag on the aisle seat next to her.

“When the train pulled into Hayle about 10.40pm, a man – who had boarded the train around seven minutes earlier at Camborne station - grabbed the woman’s bag from the seat and ran from the train while it was stopped at Hayle.”

The man who grabbed the bag is described as being white, in his 40s, about 5’10” and was wearing a baseball cap, a dirty black top and jeans.

PC Edwards added: “It is believed that a number of people witnessed this offence and I am today appealing for them to come forward and contact us as they may have key information which can help us locate the offender.

“In particular, I am appealing for one woman on the train who appeared to know the offender by name, to come forward. I stress that this woman is not involved in the incident in any way but is likely to be able to assist our investigation.”

Did you witness the incident? Can you help? Are you the woman who knows the offender’s name?

Contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, text 61016, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In all calls, quote incident reference GSUB/B12 of 21/07/2014.