A group of amateur footballers told today how they rescued a woman from a savage attack after police took "too long" to arrive.

Up to 60 players on Hackney Marshes heard the woman's screams and raced after the attacker, who had allegedly threatened her with rape.

Players wrestled him to the ground as others made emergency calls. They pinned down the suspect for 20 minutes until police arrived — eight minutes after their target time.