A 76-year-old woman has died six weeks after she was viciously robbed of her handbag just yards from her Croydon home.

Gwendoline Nitta sustained serious head injuries after being knocked to the ground when a man snatched her bag containing £90 and a credit card.

The active Labour campaigner had remained in Mayday Hospital since the attack in St Andrew's Road on December 4. She had been making good progress, but suffered a setback and died on Saturday, January 15.

Detectives have stepped up their hunt for her Mrs Nitta's attacker, carrying out house-to-house inquiries and releasing an efit of a man seen near St Andrew's Road at the time of the attack.

They believe the mugger may have followed Mrs Nitta as she walked home along the quiet residential road at around 5.55pm.

Detective Inspector Nick Downing of Croydon CID said: "We are deeply saddened by Mrs Nitta's death. We have been working very closely with the family who would like to express their gratitude for the messages of support."

He appealed for anyone who may have seen Mrs Nitta or who recognises the description of her attacker to come forward. He said: "It is still vital that we find out what happened to the handbag. It is a dark blue leather, two-handled handbag.

"We are also looking into a possible connection with a man seen at East Croydon station. A man fitting the efit description was seen hanging around the ticket machines between 6pm and 6.30pm.

"It's possible this was the man who attacked Mrs Nitta, then ran to the station. If so, he could have been sweating and looking agitated.

"I appeal to the local community to help us identify Mrs Nitta's attacker.

"Someone must know who did this. I urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak to us in confidence."

The man in the efit is described as a light-skinned black man, between 19 and 23, with short black hair and wearing light-coloured clothing.

Anyone with any information should call Croydon CID on 020 8649 1217, or Crimestoppers, free and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.