A woman was allegedly assaulted and threatened with a knife while walking along an alleyway.

The incident happened on October 13 when the woman in her 40s was walking along an alleyway that leads from St Michaels Road to Chaucer Way in Hitchin.

The woman was approached by a man from behind at around 7.45am.

The offender then pushed her against a fence and threatened her with a knife. The woman fought off the man and he run off in an unknown direction. She suffered scratches as a result but was not seriously hurt.

The offender is described as a white man who is around 5ft 10in-6ft tall and of slim build. He was wearing a grey hooded top with the hood up, a black and white scarf covering his face and dark-coloured tracksuit bottoms.

The victim has a distinctive short blonde hair with a pink streak at the front. She was wearing a grey hooded jacket with purple stripes running down the arms, and dark blue tracksuit bottoms also with pink stripes on.

PC Gary Larkman, based in Hitchin Police Station, said: “This was a very frightening incident for the victim however we believe it may have been a targeted attack. I’d like to speak to anyone who believes they saw the victim or the offender in the area around the time of the incident.”

Anyone with information about the incident should contact police on the non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference G1/13/2320. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, the independent charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.