A 60-year-old woman was left with a broken ankle after being punched to the ground in an attack at Pitsea market.

The victim, who lives on Canvey, claims she was “punched in the chest” so hard she fell backwards and hit her head on a metal pole.

Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident on Saturday, shortly after 1.30pm.

The victim claims the attacker was “harassing elderly people” and shouting abuse before an onlooker stepped in.

Police and ambulance services attended the scene and the woman was taken to hospital.

She was left badly bruised and with a broken ankle and broken toes following the incident.

Speaking to the Echo, she said: “I was in shock really, he could easily have killed me, I’m not unfit for my age, but it really knocked me right off my feet, and I was just in disbelief, and since then it’s been scary. I can never go there again.

“I saw him later walk into a chemist with another man, I informed the police of it.

“I used to live in London which is a place where you have to have your guard up a bit, I didn’t realise that Basildon could be just as bad. It was just so random. There’s nothing I could have done.

“The police came and took me to the hospital. They said they will look at the cameras to see what happened.”

The victim reported that the blow to her chest was so strong that she “initially thought she had been stabbed”.

The woman is still recovering from a recent back operation and the attack has added to her physical and emotional trauma.

A spokesperson for the Police said: “We’re investigating an incident in Pitsea which took place shortly after 1.30pm on 4 February.

“It was reported that a woman aged in her 60s had been pushed to the ground in Northlands Pavement and injured her ankle and back.

“No arrests have been made and our enquiries are ongoing.

“We need anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage of it to get in contact.”

“The victim is now recovering at home and receiving support from her family and friends.”