A footpath was closed by police after a woman was grabbed in an "attempted sexual assault".

The cordon was set up in the park next to John Whittle Lodge and Saunders Park View in Brighton after an attack at 11.10pm on Tuesday.

According to the police, the woman was approached by a man walking towards her.

He made threats and tried to grab her, before snatching her mobile phone and throwing it into nearby bushes.

A passerby heard her scream, and the man ran off.

It is the second reported incident near Saunders Park in less than a week.

Police community support officers remained at the scene on Wednesday, where searches have been carried out.

Hannah Whitehead was painting the basketball court next to the alley when police arrived today.

She said: "I didn't see what happened but all of a sudden there were police with dogs all over the place.

"They taped off the walkway and they were obviously looking for something in there, it was all pretty scary."

Alan Redmond, who lives in the John Whittle Lodge flats next to the street, said: "It was quite dramatic.

"You don't expect to see police tape so close to where you live."

The footpath runs alongside Saunders Park off Lewes Road.

Last week a woman reported waking up after being unconscious for several hours, and believed she had been robbed at the park.

Police are investigating a suspected robbery there, but it is not clear if the attempted sexual assault in the footpath is linked to the crime.

Detectives investigating say anyone with information about the incident should call 101 and quote reference 7 of 04/05.