A stranger tried to drag a drunk woman off the street in what police believe was a chilling abduction attempt.

Latex gloves and cleaning products were found during a police search of a car at the scene.

A man was arrested in Western Road after passers-by saw a struggle at the roadside and stepped in.

The incident happened in pouring rain near the boundary of Brighton and Hove at about 4am on Sunday.

The 30-year-old woman was walking home from a night out with friends in West Street.

Two men sitting in a parked car nearby said they saw her spill the contents of her handbag on to the street. She ended up sprawling drunkenly on the pavement as she tried to gather up her belongings.

Onlookers said a car pulled up next to her. They claimed a man got out and appeared to drag the woman towards the car.

They said the woman kicked the car door closed and banged on the roof as the man grappled with her.

One man asked a doorman at a nearby nightclub to look out for him as he went to challenge the suspected attacker. The two then kept him there until police arrived and a man was arrested.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police thanked all those involved for their actions.

She said: "They had a hunch that something wasn't right and, rather than sit by, two men got up and helped out."

Detectives are still keen to hear from any potential witnesses who were in the area, near the Providence pub, at the time of the incident.

The spokeswoman said: "It is a busy road, even given that it was 4am. It may well be that other people saw something but didn't realise the significance."

Anyone who witnessed the attack or saw a silver Toyota in the area is asked to call Brighton CID on 0845 6070999 or 0800 555111.