A WOMAN was dragged along a road for 40 metres after she tried to stop someone stealing her car.

It happened at 5pm on Wednesday when a 53-year-old woman drove her black Peugeot 307 from Sunniside into St Thomas Street, Sunderland.

She parked at the back of Joplings store, where she got out to post a letter in a nearby postbox, holding her car keys in her hand.

Someone ran up behind her, pushed her against the car, took the keys, got into the driver's seat and started to drive off.

The woman was trapped between the open door and the car and was dragged along the road before the man braked and the woman fell to the ground.

She was taken to a nearby shop until police arrived, and was then taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital where she was released after treatment for cuts and bruises.

The man is described as being in his late teens to early 20s, 5ft 5in to 5ft 7in, of slim build, clean shaven with short mousey-coloured hair.

He spoke with a Wearside accent and was wearing a dark tracksuit top, which was possibly blue, and also may have been wearing jeans.

Witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to contact Sunderland CID on 0191-454 7555 ext 66244.