A woman was hit in the stomach with a metal pole during an attempted robbery in Ashton-on-Ribble.

Preston Police were called to Dial Emma’s tanning salon and hairdressers in Fylde Road around 5.40pm on Saturday 8 December.

Two men entered the salon and approached a woman in the shop, and one man tried to take the woman’s handbag.

She managed to keep hold of her bag but fell to the floor – one of the men hit her in the stomach with a metal pole.

A member of the public intervened and pulled the man off the woman and she was not seriously injured.

Both men had their hoods up and faces covered during the attack and left in the direction of Fleetwood Street and then on to Steeple View.

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Detective Constable Fabian Spence said: “Thanks to the member of the public who intervened, the victim was not seriously harmed and the offenders didn’t manage to get away with anything.

“But this must have been very frightening for those involved and we need to find the people responsible.”

Anyone with information should please contact police on 101 quoting log number 1149 of 8 December.