The Corporation of Hamilton is in discussions about extending the use of closed circuit television cameras to Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke in the wake of a spate of handbag snatches.

Although the stretch of road is outside the city and out of the Corporation's jurisdiction, two major businesses in the area have approached the Corporation with a scheme to finance CCTV there.

In the latest attack, two elderly tourists were knocked to the ground and robbed as they made their way to the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel.

A man approached them from behind from a dark coloured car and tried to snatch the woman's handbag as they approached Barr's Park at 8.30 p.m. on Sunday.

The woman and her husband struggled to hold onto the bag, but the robber managed to pull them to the ground and escape.

The elderly man chased the robber along Woodbourne Avenue, but the thief got into what is believed to be the same dark coloured car and sped off.

The stolen handbag contained prescription glasses, jewellery, identification, credit cards and cash.

The elderly man sustained a slight injury to his elbow as a result of being pulled to the ground, while the woman received several bruised fingers, a broken right ring finger and abrasions to her right knee.

She was treated at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and released.

The suspect is described as "a coloured male with a slim build wearing dark clothing and a baseball cap''.

Some 37 CCTVs, paid for by Government, the Corporation and the private sector, were installed in Hamilton in January and became fully operational in August.

Corporation secretary Roger Sherratt said last night: "We are looking with the Police at the possibility of extending the use of cameras.

"The Corporation is very concerned indeed about the instances of handbag snatching in Pitts Bay Road, although it is outside the city limits so technically it is not in our area of jurisdiction or responsibility.

"It is feasible to install the cameras there. But it is a question of who provides the funding for it, when it could be done and how.

"We've had an indication from two major financial businesses in the area who expressed a financial interest in extending the CCTV system along Pitts Bay Road.'' Roger Sherratt