A HAVE-A-GO hero who chased a violent mugger who had attacked an elderly woman has been rewarded by his community.

Connor Clifford, 18, instinctively chased after the thug – who had left a 73-year-old woman covered in blood and snatched her handbag earlier this month – in Lonsdale Road, Southchurch.

The attacker ran off towards Cluny Square, but brave Connor gave chase, and the man dropped the handbag, before getting away.

The St Lukes Ward Community Association honoured brave Connor by giving him £50 from its funds.

Member Rose Ariss, who runs the Cafe @ The Square in Cluny Square, said: “I thought it was fantastic that he chased after that person without any thought to himself.

“Youngsters sometimes get a bad press, but I think for a youngster to have done that is a very good thing.”

Ward councillor Paul van Looy added: “We wanted to honour him because it was a great thing that he did.”

Mr Clifford said, just after the incident: “It feels good to have actually helped someone out in that situation.”

A 37-year-old man from Southend was arrested. He has been bailed until September 24