A bakery manageress was abducted by two robbers who took her on a terrifying drive before stealing takings and dumping her in a roadside lay-by.

The woman, who works as a relief manager at The Oven Door bakery, in Victoria Cross Gallery, off Market Place, Wantage, was on her way to bank takings on Saturday when she was grabbed by two men.

They bundled her into a red five-door hatchback outside the post office in Wallingford Street at 11.55am and took her on a 15-mile drive.

After stealing £1,800 from her money belt and some loose change from a yellow cash bag, the men told the terrified woman to get out of the car in a lay-by on the A338 at Great Shefford, near Hungerford, Berkshire. She was badly shaken but otherwise unhurt following her 40-minute ordeal and immediately called police at nearby Hillside Stud farm.

Det Con Colin Shields, of Wantage Police, said: "The lady was unharmed but obviously very frightened by her ordeal.

"We believe the men were in the area of the post office prior to the abduction, so members of the public may have seen them.

"Any information we receive could be very useful in catching them."

Police were talking to the woman today in their hunt for clues. A spokesman added: "The woman was just going about her normal business when she was accosted." It is hoped she may be able to identify the two men, who were not wearing balaclavas.

She was not forced to wear a blindfold during the drive.

Detectives were also studying footage from closed-circuit television cameras to see if the incident was caught on film.

The first man was in his mid-20s, 6ft tall, well built, with dark brown or black, short spiky hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a black Puffa jacket and jeans.

The second man was in his late-20s, 6ft 3in tall, and of stocky build. He had ginger or brown stubble on his face and spoke with an Irish accent. He was wearing a black Puffa jacket with a green hood.

Police are appealing for witnesses who saw anything in Wallingford Street between 11am and noon to come forward.

Staff at the bakery were reluctant to talk today. But a colleague said: "She is all right but we can't really say anything at the moment."

Anyone with any information should call Det Con Colin Shields on 01235 776060.

Story date: Monday 22 November

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