A WOMAN punched a man in the face after he grabbed her and tried to get her into a car.

Police in the New Forest are urgently appealing for information after the 50-year-old woman was approached while walking away from The Glen Eagle Pub.

She was walking along Butts Ash Lane in Hythe towards The Heath pub when a small black hatchback with two men inside pulled up next to her.

The man in the passenger side then got out of the car and grabbed her, putting his arms around her waist.

But the woman managed to escape when she punched the man in the face and ran to call police.

The man in the driver’s seat didn’t get out of the car.

Police are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward if they were in the Butts Ash Lane area on Saturday, October 3 at around 11pm.

The man who approached the woman is described as white but tanned, in his late 20s and approximately 5ft 10in.

He had cropped hair and large eyebrows and had stocky broad shoulders and looked unkempt, he wore black jeans and a polo type shirt with a tattoo showing on one of his arms.

The driver had short hair and wore a watch on his right wrist.

Detective Constable Martin Timmis of the Western Investigation Team has said: “I want to reassure the public that an incident like this is very rare. I would always recommend walking home with a friend if it’s dark, even if it's just a short walk.

“This is an isolated incident and I am appealing for any witnesses travelling along the Butts Ash Lane at around 11pm who may have seen this incident.

"Also, I am asking anyone who may have been leaving the Glen Eagle Pub at around this time who can recall anything suspicious.”

Anyone with information can call 101 quoting 44150343958.