A "SOFTLY spoken" mugger grabbed a young girl before demanding money from a woman.

A woman and three children aged six, 11, and 14, had left Forest Glades Leisure Centre and were walking along Kidderminster's Bromsgrove Street to Lion Street at 7pm on Tuesday when the woman heard a "softly spoken" man behind her.

According to the police, she turned around and saw the man clutching the 11-year-old - the daughter of a family friend - demanding the woman's purse.

The girl managed to break free and the man then walked off along Lion Street towards the ring road.

The man is described as male, white and 5ft 7in tall. He was slim and in his late teens or early 20s, tanned and clean-shaven.

He had collar-length brown hair, and was wearing a navy blue T-shirt and dark trousers.

Anyone with information can call Kidderminster police on 01562 820888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.