A WOMAN had to be rescued after being pushed into a Worcestershire canal.

Police in Kidderminster are treating the incident, which happened yesterday evening, as an assault and are looking to trace two youths on bikes.

The one shoved the woman into the canal near Sainsbury's's as she walked to work.

The incident happened at around 8.15pm as the 20-year-old woman, who is from Kidderminster, was walking on the towpath towards the small bridge over the canal at the back of the postal sorting office opposite Sainsbury's.

The woman, who had just visited the store on the Crossley Retail Park, was using her mobile phone when she became aware of two youths riding bikes towards her. She stepped out of the way to let them pass and was then pushed by one of them into the canal.

She does not know if the youths were male or female.

She managed to swim to the bank and hold on for several minutes before a local man who was passing by heard her cries for help and pulled her from the water. The woman suffered a bump to her head and injuries to her ankle and knee. She was taken to Kidderminster Hospital and went home after treatment.

Appealing for witnesses Inspector Paul Crowley of Kidderminster police said: "Although fortunately the consequences were not more serious on this occasion, a person could easily have panicked in a situation like this and got into serious difficulties - particularly if there were obstacles in or under the water."

He praised the actions of the man who pulled the woman from the canal and added: "It's important we trace the youths responsible for this quickly and would appeal for anyone who might have seen them before or after the incident, or might have any information that could help us identify them to contact us on 08457 444 888."

Anyone wishing to contact the police anonymously can also ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.