A 17-year-old girl was dragged into an alleyway and sexually assaulted as she walked home alone after a night out in Brighton.

The girl was attacked late on Saturday night in Ditchling Road, Brighton, and police believe motorists and passers-by on the busy street may have seen the attacker.

She was grabbed from behind and dragged into a pathway leading to Birch Lodge flats where the assault took place at 11.35pm.

Her attacker ran off after she put up a struggle.

She was able to give police a good description after being interviewed by officers who are trained to deal with victims of sex attacks.

The man was in his late 30s with tanned skin and black frizzy hair tied in a ponytail. He had brown eyes and dark eyebrows and stubble on his face. He was strong and muscular.

The attacker was wearing a short sleeved blue T-shirt with a white horizontal band across the chest. He wore faded black jeans.

Anyone with any information about the attack should get in touch with Brighton CID on 0845 6070999.