A woman has had her purse stolen while shopping in Waitrose.

The woman was in the Billericay High Street store at around 10am on February 9.

The victim reported that as she bent down to get something from a shelf, a woman pushed her trolley away and seemed to bend down slightly over it.

The victim immediately checked her handbag which was in the trolley and noticed that her purse, containing bank cards and two figure sum of cash was missing.

She tried to chase after woman who she thought had taken the purse, but could not keep up with her.

Anyone with information about the identity of the woman in this image should contact Pc Paul Simmons at Basildon LPT on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.