A MASKED man threatened to stab a teenage girl during an attempted robbery in Wallasey.

The 15-year-old was walking along Love Lane when she was approached by a man she did not know.

He pushed her against a wall, held his arm over her chest, demanded her phone and threatened to stab her, though no knife was seen.

He then ran off empty-handed towards Liscard.

Although uninjured the girl has been left distressed following her ordeal.

The man wanted by police is described as white, 5ft 8 ins tall of a medium build. He wore a dark coloured jacket with hood, dark coloured tracksuit bottoms and had his face covered.

DI Mark Tivendale said: "We are absolutely determined to find this offender so he cannot commit further crimes but we need the public's help in piecing together what happened before and after he committed this crime.

"I would appeal to anyone who was out and about at this time and think they saw anything that in hindsight seems suspicious, to contact us with that information.

"I'd also like to reassure people that incidents like this are rare and neighbourhood officers will be patrolling this area.

"Information that seems trivial to them may turn out to be crucial for us in catching this person."

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police on 0151 777 2265, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.