A 19-year-old woman was grabbed around the throat by a robber who demanded her backpack.

But the robber ran off empty handed after a member of the public shouted at him.

The crime happened at 4pm on Monday near the North Oxford Association Centre in Summertown.

Police described the robber as white, 6ft 4ins, and in his late 30s or early 40s. He was wearing a hi-visibility jacket.

PC Neil Rudge, from Oxford police station, appealed for anyone who saw the attack to call 101.

He said: “Police would like to thank and speak to the member of public for intervening and assisting the victim.

“Oxford is a safe place, but this was an unprovoked attack and police are appealing for witnesses to the incident in order to bring the offender to justice.”