Police have made arrests as they continue to appeal for witnesses and information following a robbery that left an elderly woman critically ill in hospital.

Met Police have also released a picture of a similar style handbag to that stolen from the victim that they wish to trace.

The bag was taken from 70-year-old Marian Botos after she was assaulted outside her home in Curzon Avenue, Stanmore on Saturday, November 7.

The bag is described as slim with a brown leather look, rectangular in shape, in a clutch style with a zip top and long thin shoulder strap.

Inside the handbag was a black purse with metal clip fastening, black fabric gloves and red lipstick.

According to Met Police , Marian was assaulted at around 7.10pm on November 7 after she had caught the bus home from shopping in Edgware.

She reportedly suffered a serious head injury during the robbery and remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Earlier that day Marian had been selling poppies in Harrow Town Centre, before going shopping.

Her handbag has not yet been recovered.

The suspect is described as a white man, aged in his late 30s and 5ft 8ins tall and was wearing a grey or dark coloured top, black trainers and a dark coloured hat.

Police believe that he fled the scene in a white car-derived van.

'Marian remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition'

A handbag similar to the one stolen during the robbery of Marian Botos
A handbag similar to the one stolen during the robbery of Marian Botos

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command said: "We are urging anyone who recognises this handbag to come forward and help us with our enquiries.

"It is fairly distinctive; someone may have found it discarded in the street or saw Marian's attacker in possession of it when he fled the scene.

"Marian remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. She was practically on her doorstep when she was attacked and robbed of her handbag and I would urge anyone who may know something that may help us catch the person responsible then please get in touch."

Two men, a 45-year-old and 44-year-old, were arrested by local officers from Harrow on suspicion of robbery on Friday November 13, after a vehicle stop in a street and have since been bailed pending further enquiries.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Incident Room on 0208 358 0100, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.