A WOMAN was robbed, kidnapped and then plied with alcohol, sparking a police manhunt.

The 24-year-old was at a derelict property in Richmond Road, Chingford, when a man stole an unspecified amount of cash from her at about 1am on Sunday.

Two other men soon entered the property and the woman was taken, against her will, out of the house and into a vehicle, which is believed to be a white van, where two other men were waiting.

The victim was then driven to another property, where she was threatened and plied with alcohol.

The next thing the woman remembers is being dropped off in Holland Park, west London, at 7.30am the next morning and she immediately alerted police.

At this stage there has been no allegation of a sexual motive for the kidnapping, but investigations continue.

Police cordoned off the derelict property on Sunday until Monday evening as forensic teams scoured the area and officers conducted door to door enquiries in the quiet cul-de-sac.

Resident Kelly Street says the property has been in a state of disrepair for some time and the garden had become overgrown, blocking the entrance to the door.

She has walked past it on a regular basis and never noticed anyone living there or using the premises.

She said: "My neighbour says he has tried to find out who owns the house with a view to buying it as an investment, but he has been unable to trace the owner.

"It is very nerve wracking, I've got two small children.

"We used to live in Marlowe Road, in Waltham-stow, where it was terrible, and it is nice to move to a quiet area, but I suppose you are never going to escape it.

"It is not a through road. You would have to know where you were going to find it because it is right on a dead end."

The man who is suspected of robbing the young woman is described as Asian, around 25-years-old, about 5ft 9ins tall with short black hair.

The other men are described as being of eastern European origin and aged in their mid-20s.

Anyone with information should contact acting Detective Inspector Kevin Jeffery at Chingford CID on 8345 3035 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.