A 24-year-old man has been arrested after a 12-year-old schoolgirl was attacked with a baseball bat.

The youngster 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.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Ling said: "I'm very grateful to the public and the media for helping us identify and arrest a suspect so quickly after the crime.

"I'd still like to speak to anyone who was in the area who may have seen or heard something that could help with the investigation."

The man, from Hastings, remained in custody having been arrested on suspicion of assault last night.