Police are appealing for information after a man attempted to restrain a woman in Christchurch as she was walking to work in the early hours of the morning.

Police say a man approached a 21-year-old female on a Restell Street footpath in Papanui at 6.19am on Tuesday morning.

The man attempted to restrain the woman but she escaped with a minor injury to her hand and sought help from a nearby business.

Police are looking to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time.

The man is described as in his late 20's to early 30's of solid build with dark hair and stubble.

He is around 5 foot 8 inches (176cm) tall and was wearing a light coloured zip-up hooded sweatshirt.

- NZ Newswire