Scotland Yard said it was mounting an appeal following the incident near Devonshire Road in [Palmers Green] shortly after 1pm.

The attack immediately left the 82-year-old woman, who had been shopping at a Morrisons supermarket, in a critical condition in hospital. Police today said she was now in a stable condition.

Detective Constable Ryan Clark, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a callous attack on a vulnerable member of the community who was out in the middle of the day shopping for groceries.

"There would have been a lot of people in the area at the time. My team is keen to hear from anyone who saw anyone suspicious and in particular two youths making off from the scene of the attack."

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "The elderly woman, who was walking with the aid of walking stick, was set upon by two youths as she left Wm Morrison's supermarket shortly after 1pm on Friday, 13 March.

"The woman was rushed to central London hospital in a critical condition by London Air Ambulance after being knocked to the ground. Her condition is now stable."

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111 quoting reference CRIS 5205449/15.

Palmers Green and surrounding areas would have been busy with pre Mothers Day shoppers, so has anyone got any camera phone images please that may have captured youths following the elderly lady or running off later?