Police have released an efit of a man they would like to speak to about an attack on a 12-year-old girl on her way home from school.

The schoolgirl was attacked by a man who knocked her to the ground with a bat between 3.30pm and 4.15pm on Monday on a footpath just off The Ridge, Hastings.

She was opposite the BP garage at The Ridge when she was struck but screamed when her attacker grabbed her and he ran off.

The youngster suffered a minor head injury but was badly shaken.

The attacker was white, 5' 6" and in his 20s or 30s. He was very pale, did not have any wrinkles, sunken cheeks and a skinny face. He also had bristly brown eyebrows, brown eyes and was clean shaven other than a tuft of brown hair under his lip.

He was wearing dark clothing with the hood pulled up.

Detective Inspector Rob Morland said: "We're still keen to speak to anyone who was in the area who may have seen or heard something that will help with the investigation.

"One potential witness is a white man, in his fifties or sixties who was smart and in a light coloured striped suit and smart shoes who was walking along that same path shortly before the attack.

"A group of four teenage boys who used the footpath to get to The Ridge may also have seen the man running past them at the Robert de Mortain pub.

"The victim is understandably very shaken by what happened. We need to find her attacker."

Anyone with information should call 101 quoting Op Adare, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.