An agent has been praised by police after her response to witnessing an elderly woman being mugged.

Holly Pendred, 25, who works for Gibbs Gillespie in Pinner, Middlesex, was leaving her office at around 7pm last Tuesday when she saw what she thought was two people fighting.

Holly, an assistant lettings manager, said: “I was pulling out of the car park after work and saw two people under the railway bridge grappling with each other.

“As I drove closer I realised it was an elderly woman being attacked by a man who was pulling at her handbag.

“I slammed on the brake and jumped out and ran towards them. The man ran off with the lady’s bag. She was pretty shaken up but appeared unhurt. Along with a couple of other people I stayed with her until the police came.”

The drama did not end there as a woman driver told police she had seen the direction in which the mugger ran off.

Holly said: “The policemen then asked me to jump in their car as I had managed to get a good look at the man.

“Within a couple of minutes I spotted him and the police arrested him with the woman’s belongings still on him.

“The police officers thanked me and said I had done a brave thing, but I think most people would do the same in that situation.

“It was instinct. I saw him attacking the elderly lady and thought I’m not letting this happen. If it was my Mum or Nan I’d want someone to help them.

“It all happened very quickly, and I’m just glad the lady seemed unhurt.”