A WOMAN had her car stolen and was dragged to the floor as she attempted to stop the thief driving off.

Kerry Holcroft, 27, a direct delivery manager for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, had left her car unattended for a less than a minute in Ivinson Road, Darwen, when a man jumped inside.

As he drove off towards Anyon Street, Kerry tried to stop him by holding on to the door handle but she was pulled to the ground, suffering bruising to her arms and legs.

The car has since been found abandoned in Merseyside and Darwen police hope to hear from any witnesses to the incident.

Kerry, who lives in Blackburn, had been to collect cash from a customer in Ivinson Road at around 2.50pm on Monday and had got back in her car.

She started the engine of the Ford Focus, worth £12,000, but realised she had dropped her pen outside.

As she got out to look for the pen, leaving the engine running, a man jumped in to the car and drove off towards Darwen town centre.

Kerry said: "I was looking on the grass verge for my pen and when I turned round I saw a dark figure near the passenger side of the car and couldn't tell if he was getting in.

"I ran back to the driver's door and he had got into the driver's seat and had locked the door. I couldn't believe it.

"I held on to the door handle as he drove off and ended up being pulled to the floor in the middle of the road.

"I was more bothered about the car than anything because it was a new car.

"I think he must have just been walking past and saw an opportunity when he saw the car left on its own.

"I didn't know what to do because my money and mobile phone were in the car so I went to a local shop for help.

"I have had to have the locks changed at my house but I'm just glad the car's been found even if it is damaged."

The car also contained £180 of cash in a green bag, a silver Samsung mobile phone, personal documents and bank cards, none of which was in the car when it was found.

DC Chris Shaw, of Darwen CID, said: "This looks like an opportunistic crime where the thief has just seen her get out of the car and jumped in, rather than it being planned.

"We have done house-to-house inquiries and we are doing a letter drop in the area appealing for witnesses."

The man was described as white, in his early 20s, of medium build, clean shaven, average height, wearing a grey nylon tracksuit top.

Anyone with information should contact Darwen CID on 01254 353841.