A woman was punched in the face by a pair of teenage girls in an attempted street robbery in Oxford last night.

Passers-by intervened and stopped the attack in Banbury Road, near Cutteslowe roundabout, North Oxford, at 7pm.

Last night, police appealed for witnesses after a 21-year-old woman was approached by two younger women who tried to snatch her handbag.

She suffered cuts and bruises to her face.

Passers-by intervened and the would-be robbers fled.

Police described one of the girls as black, while the other was white — both were described as aged mid to late teens and slim.

Det Con Iain Spencer, of the Oxford robbery team, said: "The victim received minor injuries during the attack.

"The incident took place on a busy road in Oxford.

"Thankfully a number of people saw the attack took place, but I am still keen to speak to anyone who may have seen two women of these descriptions in North Oxford on Monday evening to contact police immediately."

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.