POLICE investigating an attempted dog theft have issued an e-fit of one of the suspects.

Detectives at North Yorkshire Police are appealing to anyone who recognises the man from the e-fit to contact them.

The incident happened at around 1pm on Thursday, December 11, when the woman was walking near the Oaks in Dalton, near Thirsk with her dog when two men in a blue van pulled up.

The passenger got out of the van and told the woman to give them her dog, he then tried to grab the pet which slipped its lead and ran off.

The woman kicked the man and sustained a cut to her wrist as he tried to get hold of the dog’s lead. The dog ran off to a nearby field and has been reunited with the victim.

The van is described as blue, about the size of a post office van with very dirty rear doors and muddy wheels.

The man who spoke to the woman and depicted in the e-fit is described as aged in his mid 30s and spoke with an Eastern European accent. He was wearing muddy lace-up boots, blue jeans and a blue parker style coat with fur around the hood.

The driver of the van had dark hair and a dark complexion.

Following the incident, the van drove off towards the Jolly Farmer pub.

Anyone who can identify the man is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Northallerton CID.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 12140213842.