Gunmen kidnap woman motorist

A woman was kidnapped at gunpoint as she parked her car at a cinema near Manchester city centre.

Two men accosted the 57-year-old woman, who has not been named, as she parked at the Showcase cinema in Belle Vue, central Manchester, on Monday.

They were holding what was believed to be a silver handgun.

The men forced her to drive them in her light blue BMW across to Levenshulme, and then on to Hulme - a trip of about eight miles.

Frantic escape

The pair then made the woman stop and tried to bundle her into the boot of the car but she managed to escape, hitting her head as she ran away, police said.

The woman, who is from Oldham, was on her way to meet her husband, daughter and son to watch a film after work when she was abducted.

She pulled into the car park outside the cinema at 1710 GMT and called her daughter to say she would join them shortly.

When she still had not arrived 35 minutes later, her husband phoned police to report her disappearance.

A search was called off when she contacted police as soon as she escaped from her assailants.

'Terrifying ordeal'

Police said the woman's laptop computer and handbag were in the BMW car which has still not been found.

Detective Inspector Sam Howarth said: "This appears to have been an opportunist attack as the two men targeted a lone woman as she attempted to join her family for a Christmas movie.

"They forced her to drive around south Manchester for 45 minutes before she finally managed to escape and contact the police.

"It was a terrifying ordeal which could have been far more serious.

"I would like to appeal to anyone who was in and around the cinema area at the time of the kidnapping who saw the two men to get in touch.

"We believe they may have been in the car park for some time before they selected which car they wanted and attacked this woman."

Attacker's descriptions

One of her assailants was described as white, 25 year old, 5ft 11ins tall, of medium build and with short black hair.

He was wearing a grey sweatshirt and dark jeans.

The second attacker was black, aged 20, with short dark hair, glasses and dark clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 0161 856 4240 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.