Police have released CCTV footage in the hope that it will lead them to a thief who attempted to steal from an elderly woman in a charity shop.

The same person may have been responsible for using a stolen bank card to withdraw over £1,000 in Stroud.

Officers investigating handbag and purse thefts in Cirencester and Stroud have released CCTV of a woman they want to talk to in connection with the cases.

The incidents happened at Helen & Douglas House charity shop in Cricklade Street, Cirencester and in Poundland in King Street, Stroud on the afternoon of Tuesday 16 October.

In one of the Cirencester incidents, which took place at about 2.10pm, an elderly victim was followed around the shop before her handbag was taken from a push-along trolley.

When other shoppers confronted the suspect, she made off, dropping the bag as she left the store.

In the Stroud incident, which happened between 3.30pm and 4.50pm, a woman's purse was taken as she walked around Poundland before her bank card was then used to withdraw over £1000 from several cashpoints in Stroud and Gloucester.

Following a number of other enquiries, officers are now turning to the public for help so they can identify and speak to the woman in the CCTV about these incidents.

Residents from across the county, but in particular Stroud, Cirencester and Gloucester are asked to look at the images.

Anyone who recognises the woman or may have any information should call 101 and quote crime 29779/18.