CCTV has captured the moment two would-be thieves made a brazen attempt to steal £200 from a Christmas shopper by pouncing on her as she withdrew money from a cash point.

Shocking pictures reveal how the two-man distraction team targeted 51-year-old art gallery owner Camilla Rodwell in front of scores of festive shoppers.

Speaking of her frightening ordeal, which happened in broad daylight outside Barclays bank in Sudbury, Suffolk, Mrs Rodwell told how she 'whacked' one of the men across the chest before his accomplice tried to snatch her card.

Brazen: CCTV captured the moment a would-be thief targeted 51-year-old Camilla Rodwell at a cash point in Sudbury, Suffolk, on December 22. She had entered her PIN when the man approached her from the right

Defending herself: Mrs Rodwell told how she 'whacked' the man across the chest (pictured), adding: 'I didn't do it very hard. I wish now that I'd done it harder.' The man had been trying to distract her with a piece of paper

She had entered her PIN when a man approached her from her right and began talking to her.

Mrs Rodwell, of nearby Long Melford, said: 'He waved a white piece of paper in my face, to try to distract me I guess, and I yelled "get away from me".

'He reached across and pushed the button that I think was for £200 so I whacked him across the chest.

'I didn't do it very hard.

'I wish now that I'd done it harder.'

It was then his accomplice appeared at Mrs Rodwell's left shoulder in a bid to snatch her cash and card.

'I obviously wasn't willing to leave because the machine was about to spurt out £200. The money came out.

'His accomplice approached me and started trying to distract me.

Shocking: This CCTV image reveals the moment the would-be thief reached over and pressed the '£200 button'

Brave: Mrs Rodwell said: 'I obviously wasn't willing to leave because the machine was about to spurt out £200'

Distraction team: It was at this point the would-be thief's accomplice appeared at Mrs Rodwell's left shoulder in a bid to snatch her cash and card (pictured). She said: 'I managed to get my card and they just sauntered off'

'I managed to get my card and they just sauntered off. It was such a shock.'

Mrs Rodwell immediately went inside the bank to alert police.

Speaking after a witness appeal was released on New Year's Eve, she praised the fast-acting response of Barclays staff as 'brilliant'.

'They called the police who came very quickly,' Mrs Rodwell said.

'Another chap said he had witnessed it all.

'They've since managed to look at the CCTV pictures which apparently were very clear and absolutely corroborated what I said happened.'

Scary: Mrs Rodwell immediately went inside the bank to alert police. She has since spoken of her ordeal

Speaking after a witness appeal was released on New Year's Eve, she praised the bank staff's quick response

She said the terrifying incident, which happened at around 10.45am on December 22, had left her shaken up.

Warning other people to be alert when withdrawing money, Mrs Rodwell added: 'I think I will probably think twice about going to an ATM outside a bank.

'There were lots of Christmas shoppers around.

'You don't expect that to happen in Sudbury.'

Suffolk Police have urged anyone with information about the attempted theft to come forward.

The first suspect was described by police as white, aged in his mid-20s, with very dark short curly hair, around 5ft 4ins tall and wearing a shiny blue puffa-style jacket.