A woman was pulled into a car, driven away and robbed of her handbag and contents as she made her way home from a night out in Batley, West Yorkshire Police said.

The 37-year-old victim was targeted at around 3.25am on Sunday morning as she walked in Bradford Road, near the IMO car wash.

She told investigators a dark coloured car pulled up alongside her, three men emerged and forced her inside before driving to Carlinghow Lane to Batley Field Hill, where she was allowed out.

While she was in the car her handbag, containing cash, cards and a Samsung Galaxy telephone, was taken.

She was uninjured but left very shaken by the incident.

The car may have been maroon coloured and the suspects were all Asian men.

Detective Sergeant Nigel Gittins of Kirklees Police said: "This is clearly a serious and very unusual incident which is being investigated by detectives. While the victim was unhurt she was distressed by what took place.

"I would ask anyone who saw her being forced into the car or who saw three men driving a car fitting this description in the Bradford Road area between 3am and 3.25am to contact us.

" I would wish to reiterate that the nature of this offence is extremely unusual for Batley and extremely rare full stop. Anyone who has information should contact Kirklees CID on 101 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111," he said.