Woman robbed at knifepoint in Sydney

A woman has been robbed of her bag at knifepoint in Sydney's west.

Police say the 51-year-old woman was walking along Maud Street in Lidcombe with another woman, aged 45, when a silver sedan pulled up alongside them at about 1pm on Saturday.

A man stepped out of the car's front passenger seat and tried to rip a bag from the younger woman's shoulder but she managed to hold onto it.

The man then produced a knife and threatened the 51-year-old woman before stealing her bag and jumping back into the car, which then sped off.

Police say the offender is of Indian/sub-continental appearance, around 160cm tall with short, dark hair.