Police are appealing for witnesses after three men confronted a lone woman during an attempted car-jacking on a North East street.

The men approached the woman driving a black Vauxhall Corsa on Durham Road, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street and demanded she get out of the car at 8.30pm on Sunday (January 22).

When she refused to get out one of the men threw a can at the car and kicked it, causing damage. 

The woman drove off shaken but unhurt. 

 A Northumbria Police said: "It was reported that a woman was driving a black Vauxhall Corsa on Durham Road, Birtley, at about 8.30pm on Sunday, January 22, when, as she drove past the junction of Harras Bank, she was approached by three men who demanded she get out of the car.

"The driver refused but one of the males kicked the car and threw a can at the vehicle, damaging it.

"She drove away unharmed but was left shaken by the ordeal. Inquiries have identified a dark-coloured hatchback, believed to be a Ford Focus, which turned in the road immediately after the incident."

Officers would like to speak to the driver of the Focus to see if they have any information which could assist their investigation.

The driver of the Focus, or anyone who may have information should contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the force website or by calling 101 and quoting reference 008632Q/23.