A YOUNG woman was robbed at knifepoint as she walked home alone in York.

Police today urged lone females to be vigilant after the latest mugging in Bootham - an area of the city hit by a spate of robberies in recent months.

In last night's incident, the 27-year-old was targeted at the bottom of Marygate Lane, near the Scarborough rail bridge.

Police said she was approached by two men at 10.45pm before one of them threatened her with what appeared to be a flick knife.

When the terrified victim handed over her khaki shoulder bag, the offenders fled in different directions.

The knifeman was white, aged 18 to 22 and was about 6ft tall. He had short blond hair and was wearing jeans and a light blue hooded top with a sports logo in the middle. He fled along the riverbank towards Clifton Ings.

The other man, who raced off in the direction of Marygate, was short and stocky and was dressed in a black hooded top.

Police said the victim, who lives in York, escaped uninjured but was shocked by her ordeal. Her bag contained a mobile phone, driving licence and bank cards. One of the stolen cards was used to withdraw cash shortly after the robbery, a police spokesman confirmed.

He called on anyone who may have found the dumped bag or who witnessed the crime to phone officers on 01904 631321.

Last night's incident is the third reported robbery in the Bootham area since April.

The Evening Press reported how a woman in her mid -20s was punched in the face and had her bag snatched on August 21 near Bootham Park Hospital.

A month earlier three young men chased a female cyclist across the hospital grounds after trying to grab her bag.

And in April a robber kicked a woman in the leg before making off with her phone.

The police spokesman today warned: "Any lone female is going to be vulnerable. They need to be careful about where they are going and at what time of night.

"They need to make people aware of where they are going and what time they are going to arrive."

Updated: 13:54 Wednesday, September 01, 2004