POLICE are hunting a woman who robbed a 71-year-old man at knifepoint in broad daylight.

It happened at 8am on Saturday in Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth.

A police spokesman said that a woman on a bicycle approached the man and pulled out a knife, before stealing property and making off towards Beresford Road.

The woman is described as being around 24 years old, 5ft 7ins tall with dark shoulder-length hair.

One local trader who spoke to the Daily Echo at the weekend, but asked not to be named, said the victim would “not say boo to a goose”.

“He was on the bench outside the bank. He was waiting for the cafe to open. He can’t get over it, he’s very shaken,” she said.

The incident prompted one trader to call for the reinstatement of CCTV cameras.

Restaurant owner Ian Edwards said Southbourne was a “free for all”, especially at night.

He added: “We’ve had street battles; there are often fights on Friday and Saturday nights.

“There used to be a CCTV camera outside, but it was taken down in around 2008.

“If you call the police, two hours later you might get them drive by.

“We seem to be the only place left with no police presence at night and no CCTV cameras.

“How far does it have to go each time?”

Megan Spink, who lives and works near the scene of the knife incident, said: “It’s unusual for here, I live just around the corner and it’s quiet.”

But James Fowler, who also lives and works nearby, added: “It doesn’t shock me; a couple of people have been stabbed here in the last few years.

“It’s a surprise that this happened at 8am though.”

Any witnesses to the robbery are asked to contact DS Neil Wright on 101, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line, 0800 555 111.