A WOMAN was grabbed by the throat while walking home from a night out at the Top of The Town club.

The incident happened shortly before 2.30am on Sunday as she walked down steps towards the Commercial pub in Page Lane.

The man grabbed the woman, who is aged 20, and tried to drag her away but she gripped a set of railings and started screaming.

A friend, who heard he cries for help, shouted her name and ran towards the area, causing the man to run away along Denton Street.

Det Con Mike Lyons said: "The woman was not injured but obviously very upset and shaken by what happened.

"We believe the man may have been at the club and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact us.

"The incident happened near the footbridge over Ashley Way and several cars passed. We would also like to hear from any drivers who may have seen the incident."

The man is described as 5ft 11ins tall with dark brown hair combed backwards and possibly gelled. He was clean-shaven and of stocky, muscular build.

He was wearing a long-sleeve shirt with a packet of Embassy No1 cigarettes in the left hand pocket of the shirt, which was worn outside his blue trousers. He also wore black shoes and smelled of sweet aftershave.

Anyone who can help police is asked to contact Det Con Lyons or Det Con Julie Birch on 424 7431.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.