Toronto police say a woman managed to escape an attempted abduction in the west end on Sunday night after a man grabbed her and threatened her with a metal hacksaw.

A 27-year-old woman was walking near College Street and Brock Avenue at around 11 p.m. when police say a man approached her from behind and held a metal hacksaw up to her neck.

As the assailant started to drag her away, she began to scream for help and two men nearby got out their truck and chased the suspect away.

The man has been described as five-foot-seven, clean-shaven with an olive complexion and short, brown hair.

He was seen wearing a dark-coloured plaid coat with white horizontal stripes on the front.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).