THE family of a deaf Bristol pensioner who died within weeks of being mugged have spoken of their disgust at his attackers.

Ron Dalby, 74, who also needed walking sticks, was pounced upon after visiting his local shop on Ashley Road in St Paul's at about 12.20pm on July 9.

He was knocked to the floor by two women and robbed of his wallet, hitting and cutting his head in the process.

After spells in and out of hospital, his health deteriorated and he died at Bristol Royal Infirmary last Thursday.

The cause of death has not been ascertained and the case has been passed on to the coroner.

His sister Linda Horrell, 63, told the Evening Post: "I'm disgusted that people could go so low as to pick on a frail and vulnerable man like that.

"Ron was very independent and used to go out every day.

"He had gone to the post office to get his pension and crossed over Ashley Road to his favourite shop to buy a cucumber for his tea. He always liked his cucumber sandwiches.

"He was walking back, I presume putting his small change away, when they came up from behind.

"He struggled with them though. When he was recovering he said 'I hit them with my stick'."

The former Bristol City Council gardener was taken to the BRI and after several days went to stay at Linda's house in Hercules Close, Little Stoke.

Ron went back to his flat in Armada House, Dove Street, where he lived alone, for two days before becoming weaker and was admitted to hospital again.

Linda said he had not been the same after the attack.

"He lost weight, he wouldn't eat or drink," she said. "He couldn't remember where he had put his things and he would get confused. Ron was very well-liked and well-known in the area."

Ron had been deaf since he contracted measles as a three-year-old. He had used walking sticks since breaking one of his ankles in a fall at his block of flats three years ago.

CCTV on thisisbristol. co.uk features two woman and two men who were walking along Drummond Road towards Ashley Road before the robbery. Police believe they could have been involved.

If no one has been caught by the time Ron's estate has been sorted out, Linda will offer a £1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the robbers.

Grandmother Linda added: "To the people in the vicinity at the time, please try to remember even the slightest detail of what happened that day and tell the police. As for the people concerned, I cannot really put into words how I feel about them.

"If they want a fix or need a pint, they're not going to pick on someone who's 6ft, they're going to pick on someone like Ron who can't run away. They are lowlifes."

The female suspects are both white and in their 30s. One was about 5ft 5in tall and slim, with shoulder- length black hair in a plait and a Northern Irish accent. The second woman is about 5ft 9in tall, of a larger build. She had shoulder-length brown hair that had been dyed red.

The men were both white. One was about 35, slim, with short, light-brown receding hair. He was wearing black jogging bottoms with white stripes down the legs and a grey T-shirt with black and white or silver writing on the front.

Witnesses should call Trinity Road police station on 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.