A mother has spoken of her horror after her ten-year-old daughter told her she was sexually assaulted while playing hide and seek.

The primary school pupil told her mother she was playing in a park area in Whitehawk with an 11-year-old friend when an older boy approached and attacked her.

The girls were running around near where one of their relatives lives at around 7pm when a boy pushed her against a wall and assaulted her, the girl said.

This attack was witnessed by both the other girl and another group of youngsters, believed to be the boy’s friends, it has been claimed.

When a neighbour yelled out of a windowthe girls managed to run away.

The victim’s mother said: “Iamhorrified.

She is understandably very upset. I don’t want her playing outside now.

“Her school are being very good, they know what happened and are looking after her.”

She told how her daughter was taken to a police station and looked after.

The little girl’s friend’s mother added: “My daughter has been taking her teddy bear everywhere since the incident happened.

“She is incredibly upset.

“My daughter and her friend were just playing hide and seek when it happened.

“Apparently a neighbour saw it and yelled out the window.

“Mydaughter is usually very grown up but it has affected her.”

A Sussex Police spokeswoman confirmed the incident was being investigated, adding: “Police are investigating after a ten-year-old girl reported being sexually assaulted by an 11- year-old boy in Swanborough Place, Whitehawk, at 7pm on April 22.”