A carjacker threatened a woman with a gun after climbing into her car in a "strange but worrying" incident in Witney.

The 56-year-old victim was in the Waitrose car park preparing to drive off when a man opened her passenger door and got in.

He produced a handgun, which looked like an imitation, and demanded that she drive forward. Instead, she reversed and opened her window to call for help. The man immediately ran from the car, chased by several witnesses. The woman was left shaken by her ordeal at about 12.30pm on Sunday.

He ran off in the direction of the Tumble Towers day care centre.

The man is white, aged 30 to 40, around 5ft 10in tall and of medium build. He had long, straight sandy blond hair which came to just below his shoulders and he spoke with a local accent. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and khaki knee-length shorts.

Witnesses should call 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.