A LAND Army veteran has had her handbag stolen while out shopping.

Ivy Murray, 83, of Walthamstow was at the Hoe Street end of Walthamstow Market at about 11.30am on May 30 when her handbag was snatched from her shopping trolley.

She said: “When I got on the bus round the corner, I saw my handbag was gone. It had a lot of money in it and my mobile phone, a leather purse and three pairs of glasses.

“I went to the local post office where the manageress phoned Chingford police, who took me home and made sure I got into my flat.”

But she had to wait more than an hour for police to arrive at the post office as she was not deemed a priority, she claimed.

She said: “I dialled 999 first and they wouldn't help – they just kept me hanging around. They said they had emergencies to deal with.

“I haven't got any children and I've got no one nearby after my husband died. I've only got my niece, who lives in Basildon.”

Mrs Murray suffers from a number of health problems, including cataracts, and was locked out of her flat following the theft.

She said she was very upset by the ordeal as it has never happened to her before.

“A locksmith had to come and change my locks and I want to thank him for being so kind to me,” she said.

“I also want to thank the manageress in the post office, who bent over backwards to help me, and a man who gave me a £20 note to buy something to eat.”

Mrs Murray added that she saw a woman, aged between 25 and 35, standing nearby shortly before she realised her handbag was missing but did not get a good look at her.

She was recently given an award by Prime Minister Gordon Brown for her services during the Second World War.

Carrying out duties on farms, she was taught how to milk cows and also spent time as a rat catcher.

Mrs Murray also recently attended a special ceremony at Waltham Forest Town Hall, in which the council celebrated the work of Land Army veterans.

A spokeswoman for the police said the theft was not treated as an emergency as the handbag was reported "missing" rather than "stolen".

Anyone with information should call 0300 123 1212 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.