A man threatened a shopper with a knife and then tried to abduct her from Sainsbury's car park.

The frightening incident happened as the woman, in her late 20s, returned to her car alone after visiting a cashpoint.

Then her attacker, who was aged 30 to 40 and was wearing glasses and a woolly hat, struck.

He told the shopper he was carrying a knife, hidden by a plastic bag and ordered her into the car.

The woman escaped and ran back to the Witney store to alert staff as the attacker waited for her to let him in through the passenger door.

Police arrived shortly afterwards and searched the area but were unable to find the man.

Following the attack, officers patrolled the car park and warned staff and trolley collectors to keep an eye out for the man, who had a scarf pulled up around his face.

Det Sgt Jim Liddiard, of Witney CID, said officers wanted to arrest the man before he strikes again. "The man said he had a knife and the woman was obviously very shaken by what happened but fortunately she managed to escape.

"It appeared he wanted to get into the car with her and the incident could have been very sinister. The man may well have been trying to abduct the woman in her own car."

Call Witney CID on 01235 776456 if you can help track down this man.

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