KENDAL police officers are appealing for witnesses after two young women were left battered and bruised following an attempted car-jacking', reports Ruth Lythe.

The crime, more often associated with American inner cities than with towns in South Lakeland, is believed to be the first of its type in Kendal. It usually involves attackers using force or threats to remove the occupants of a car before they drive off in the vehicle.

The two women, with a third female friend, all aged 20 and from South Lakeland, had decided to spend last Thursday evening, May 13, out in Kendal town centre.

They drove into the town in a black Vauxhall Corsa that one of the women had bought nearly new that day. The three women left the vehicle at the town's Blackhall Road car park before walking into Kendal.

Cumbria Police said that the women returned to their car shortly after midnight and were approached by two men who demanded that the driver hand over the keys to the car. When she refused, the men dragged her out of the car and snatched the keys from her. The second man held back the other two women and forcibly tried to pull one of the women's handbags out of her hands.

After a short scuffle the men attempted to take the car but were unable to get it into gear and reversed into the car park wall. They abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot in the direction of Sandes Avenue. Police arrived on the scene quickly after the women called using a mobile phone.

The men are described by Cumbria Police as white and in their mid-twenties. One was 5ft 8in tall and of medium build with very short fair hair. He was wearing a polo shirt with white, red, yellow and orange hoops, the white hoops being thicker than the rest.

The second man was 5ft 10in tall, of slim build with short, dark, scruffy hair. He was wearing a sky blue linen jacket with a dark top, coloured jeans and training shoes.

Terry Belshaw, Crime Prevention Officer for Kendal Police, stressed that such crimes were very rare, especially in South Lakeland and that people should stay on their guard.

He said that people should try to park in a public place and that women in particular should be aware of their surroundings and should carry a personal alarm.

Mr Belshaw added: "At the end of the day the police cannot recommend confrontation of any type in these sort of circumstances but every individual reacts differently. People should use their common sense."