A WOMAN who was mugged while on her mobility scooter is trying to find the have-a-go heroes who ran to her aid.

Marie Donaghy, 74, has been left afraid to go out, after the thief swiped her handbag, which contained just £10, in Long Road, Canvey.

Two taxi drivers gave chase, almost catching the crook who was on a bike, and members of a nearby Weight Watchers club also helped by ringing the police.

But the victim claims a problem with the police system meant the call was not properly logged and local officers were unaware of the mugging until 4pm, when Mrs Donaghy’s daughter went to the station.

Mrs Donaghy, who had to be treated for shock, said: “I want to say thank you to the taxi drivers for all they did.

“I screamed ‘he’s stolen my bag’ and that’s when the taxi driver ran after him. I also went as far as I could, but I got to the bollards and unfortunately I couldn’t go any further.

“I just want to say thank you to them all, I do appreciate what they tried to do.”

She believes someone had called 999 and was told to ring the non-emergency number 101, but despite four more phone calls, it was still not properly logged. Mrs Donaghy said: “It has been a bit of a mess.

“I am a bit nervous of going out to be quite honest, when I saw someone on a bike I nearly froze.”

She praised the officer who came round later that day and called paramedics to treat Mrs Donaghy for shock.

Mrs Donaghy is also very grateful to the person who found her diary nearby and handed it in to police to be sent for forensic checks.

The suspect, believed to be in his 20s, is tall and was wearing a grey T-shirt and jeans.

An Essex Police spokesman declined to comment on the number of calls made.

She said: “Police were contacted shortly before 9.10am on Tuesday, July 22, following a theft in Furtherwick Road, Canvey. Officers attended the address of the victim later that day and took statements.”

! If you are one of Marie’s helpers, or know them, contact the Echo newsroom on 01268 469379.