Police are on the lookout for a mystery hero who came to the aid of woman under attack from an alleyway mugger.

The 42-year-old woman was walking through an alley in Dorset Road near Rutlish Road, Merton Park, on Thursday, March 1, at about 7pm when a hooded youth on a bicycle demanded she hand over her mobile phone.

Threatened and alone in a dark alley, the woman screamed before a jogger came to her aid by scaring off the youth, who is described as black and was wearing a grey hooded top.

The jogger made sure the woman was ok and left the scene before police arrived without leaving any details.

Investigating officer, Paul Fagence, from Merton police’s burglary and robbery team, said: "Thanks to the intervention of this jogger the offender fled scared and empty-handed.

"We'd really like to speak to this man to say thanks on behalf of the victim, and to ask if he could help as a direct witness who may be able to help us identify and arrest the suspect."

If you were the jogger, or have any information, please contact PC Paul Fagence on 0208 649 3221 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.