A WOMAN in her 60s escaped the clutches of a half-naked man who tried to pull her into his car near a Stockton park.

Police are appealing for information after the incident near Ropner Park earlier on Friday.

"At around 12.50pm a woman in her 60s left the park at its entrance with Balmoral Terrace where a small black car, on either a 53 or 63 plate, was parked up. The car, driven by a man, followed the woman and stopped on Sydenham Road," said a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police.

"The driver asked the woman through an open window where he was and as she approached him, he grabbed her hand and tried to pull her into the car. The woman pulled away and the car drove off."

The man was white and aged approximately 25 to 30.

He was of skinny build with an unkempt, unshaven appearance. He had dark hair and a tattooed right arm.

He was wearing a black t-shirt and was naked from the waist down.

Anyone who was in the area at the time of this incident and who may have seen the car or the direction it went in is asked to contact police on the 101 number.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers via www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phoning 0800 555 111.