The incident happened on Wednesday as the woman, aged 61, was walking with her elderly mother in Leegomery at around 11.30am.

As the pair approached Lawton Farm Way the victim noticed a man stood by the old chemist. She approached him and told him where the new chemist was located.

She continued walking then momentarily turned around. As she did, she saw the man she had spoken to outside the chemist, snatching her bag from her bike basket.

The thief ran off and the woman threw her bike to the floor and gave chase.

The woman chased the man for a few minutes shouting at him to stop and to give the bag back.

As they ran along the grassed area known as The Spinney the thief stopped and the victim caught up.

The thief apologised to the woman saying he didn’t want to do it but needed some money for food because he was homeless and hungry.

The woman told him to give her the bag back and said she would give him some money.

The thief handed over the bag and the woman gave him £10. He walked away.

Today the woman, who does not want to be named, said: “I didn’t think about what I was doing to be honest. I just saw my bag being whipped from my bike basket and I just ran after the person with it. I was determined I wasn’t going to give up.

“I was shouting out after him and along the way there was a woman who did a bit of a dance to slow the thief down.

“For some reason he just stopped and I managed to catch up with him. He kept on saying how sorry he was and said that he needed a tenner because he was homeless and hungry. I told him to give me my bag back and that I would give him some money. He did so I gave him £10 and he walked off.”

The woman, who keeps herself fit by cycling regularly, added: “I’m just still amazed by it all. People have told me in the past to be careful when putting my bag in my basket. It’s taken a few years but I suppose this has proven them right.

“It was a spur of the moment thing and luckily it did have a successful outcome, which is good, but it could have turned out a different way.”

A Telford Police spokeswoman said: “The lady was undoubtedly very shocked by what happened and decided to run after the thief, which was a very brave decision.

“Although the woman successfully got her bag back, we would not recommend members of the public to challenge potential suspects themselves.

“Fortunately nobody was injured following this incident and we are glad that the victim got her property back safely.”

Police are investigating the incident and are seeking to identify the thief. Anyone with information about the incident should contact Telford Police on 0300 333 3000 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.