A West Sussex girl was pushed into bushes and sexually assaulted as she walked to school.

The 12-year-old got off a bus in Pevensey Road, Bognor, at 8.10am yesterday and crossed the street to an alley, where she was meeting two friends.

She stepped to one side to allow a man to pass and he suddenly thrust her into the bushes.

The girl kicked him in the legs and screamed for help, alerting her friends nearby. They rushed to her as the attacker fled.

He is in his 30s, 5ft 8in tall and had greying dark brown hair and a mole on the left side of his face.

He wore a green top, blue and black jacket with the letters HH on the back in blue, combat trousers and white trainers.

Witnesses should call police at Chichester on 0845 6070999.