A TERRIFIED teenage girl was lucky to escape unharmed after a man attempted to kidnap her at knifepoint on a busy Bournemouth street.

The lone 16-year-old was waiting at a bus stop near Pokesdown railway station when a man pulled up in a silver car, took out a knife with a six-inch blade, pointed it at her chest and ordered her to get into his vehicle. Luckily the quick-thinking girl ran into a nearby pub where she raised the alarm.

She later told detectives how the man had pulled up, calmly walked around the back of his car, opened the boot and pulled out the knife.

Detective Constable Paul Chessell, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said: “He pointed the knife at her chest and ordered her to get into his car.

“With great presence of mind, the frightened girl immediately ran to The Bell public house nearby and raised the alarm.”

Now detectives are hunting the man, who is described as black, aged 35-40, five feet eight inches tall and of stocky build. He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt, shorts with a red stripe on the side and black Nike trainers.

After the girl fled, he jumped back behind the wheel and raced off along Seabourne Road towards Southbourne. Police believe his car may be a Lexus.

Det Con Chessell said: “Someone may well have seen a silver car with the boot open near the bus stop or maybe someone saw the man threaten the girl, or a driver may have had to avoid the girl as she ran across the road to The Bell.

“Incidents of this nature are not very common and although in this case the victim was left shocked and frightened by her ordeal, it is fortunate that she wasn’t physically injured.”

The attack happened last Sunday, at 7.30pm, but detectives have only just released the details.

Call Dorset Police on 01202 222222 or alternatively Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.