A woman was hit in the face by a pair of teenage girls in an attempted street robbery in Oxford on Monday night.

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

Today, police appealed for witnesses after a 21-year-old woman was approached by two younger women who tried to snatch her handbag. The victim suffered cuts and bruises to her face.

Witnesses intervened and the would-be robbers fled. Police described one of the girls as black, while the other was white — both were described as in their mid to late teens and slim.

Dc 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 taking 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."

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