Girl escapes abduction bid

A 12-year-old girl who was abducted from a shopping centre managed to escape her attacker, police said.

The girl was approached as she walked through the Kings Walk shopping centre in Gloucester on Thursday.

At about 1600 GMT an unknown man took the girl through the busy arcade, then along the Oxebode and further into the city.

She managed to get away from him and shoppers approached the girl as she walked back through the city.

Police would like these shoppers to come forward, and would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen a man acting suspiciously in the city centre.

The man had a long grey beard, was wearing a long green padded coat with lots of pockets, black trousers with a hole in the right knee and white trainers.

He also smelt of alcohol, police said.

The young girl was wearing a navy blue top and trousers.