Mother fights off couple who tried to snatch baby from pram

The female attacker yelled 'get the baby, get the baby' as the pair tried to rip the girl from her pushchair.

But the couple fled empty-handed because the tot was strapped into the pram and were finally driven away by the 30-year-old mother.

The mum, who lives in Leigh, was pushing the pram across a pelican crossing near Hulme Road in Leigh, near Wigan, at 8pm when the couple struck.

The woman first attempted to grab the baby, but as the mother fended her off the man reached into the pram.

He than ran away after being unable to release the baby, at which point the woman again tried to steal the baby.

The ordeal finally ended when the woman ran off after the mother punched her in the face.

Neither the mother nor her child were hurt, but the mother was left traumatised.

Detective Sergeant Graham Rigby, of Wigan CID, said: "This was a deeply disturbing incident in which a couple tried to snatch a baby from a pram.

"Thankfully the mother had strapped her baby into the pram and had the wherewithal to fight off the would-be abductors.

"She put up a determined fight against the couple and managed to fend them off, but she was left understandably horrified by what happened.

"We now need to hear from anyone who either saw what happened, or who saw this couple before the incident.

"We need to catch these people before they put another mother through a similar ordeal."

Police released a description of the couple they are looking for in connection with the incident.

The man is white, about 5ft 7in, in his 40s with a muscular build and very short black hair.

He was wearing black trainers, black jeans and a black leather jacket which covered most of his face.

The woman was also white, around 5ft 6in and in her 40s.

She wore black trainers, dark green combat trousers and a black jacket. Both offenders were wearing black knitted gloves.

Detectives want to hear from anyone who saw a couple fitting their description arguing in Atherleigh Way, near to Sainsbury's supermarket shortly before the incident.

Anyone with information can contact Wigan CID on 0161 856 5307 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.