A CAR driver almost ran a man down as he fled from the scene of an attempted child snatch.

The man approached an eight-year-old girl at a shopping park in Darlington as she waited for her parents to return to their car.

The man reached through the car window and grabbed her hand, but ran away when she raised the alarm.

He narrowly missed being hit by a car as he made his escape across a busy road.

The incident happened at around 1.30pm on Saturday, July 4 at Darlington Retail Park, Yarm Road.

PC Jennifer Hunt, of Darlington Police said. The little girl was sitting in the back seat of the car because she wasnt feeling well and didnt want to go into the shops.

The window was open and she was leaning out.

A man approached and asked her to go off with him.

She refused and said she was not allowed to speak to strangers.

He then grabbed hold of her hand, but she nipped him until he let go. She then wound up the window and locked the door, and hid behind the drivers seat.

The man then ran off towards KFC, and the girl said she heard a car screeching to a halt as he crossed the road. She thought he had been hit by the car, but then she saw him running towards the roundabout and out of her sight.

The man is described as pale with blue eyes and long dark brown hair. The girl could not say how old he was, but said that he had dirty fingernails and had a black stud in his nose.

He was wearing dirty black tracksuit bottoms, a black hooded top and heavy black trainers with a white Adidas logo with velcro fastenings.

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, but particularly the driver of the car, and a group of teenagers who were waiting on bikes nearby.

PC Hunt said: We are convinced that the girls account of events is correct. We have interviewed her several times and the details have not changed.

She is absolutely fine now, but she was shaken up.

If anyone saw this incident, or knows who the man is, we would like them to come forward.

Witnesses are asked to call Darlington Police with information on 0345-60-60-365