A terrified girl fought off a man who grabbed her by the wrist and rucksack as she walked to school.
She was sent into 'panic mode' after being attacked in a street in Chell, Stoke-on-Trent at around 8am on Monday.
The schoolgirl managed to shake off the man's grip and fled towards a nearby Spar convenience store, where she raised the alarm.
Her mother has now appealed for information about the raincoat-clad attacker, Stoke-on-TrentLive reports.
The suspect was tall with a slim build and he was wearing a navy blue raincoat with his hood up.
In a post on Facebook , the mother said: "She was walking up Carlton Avenue and got to the grass bit between Waveney Walks where some bloke has grabbed her.
"She managed to fight him off. He had hold of her wrist and she ran down to Spar. From there she got in touch with her friend and went to her house.
"Her mum then walked her back home to me. She was in shock but OK. I dread to think of the could haves.
"Police and school have been informed. She didn't get a very good look at him as she went into panic mode. He was tall, slim build and wearing a navy blue raincoat with his hood up.
"She says the coat looked like it was too big as it was covering his hands."
Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward and have stepped up patrols in the area.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "We received a call at 11.32am on Monday to reports of an 11-year-old girl being approached by a man in Carlton Avenue.
"He's reported to have pulled at her rucksack and wrist before she ran away unharmed. Police have carried out patrols of the area and are carrying out inquiries."
Anyone with information is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101.
