A MAN has been arrested after a woman was sexually assaulted in an alley.

At 2.30am on Saturday the 21-year-old woman was walking through the alley between Boxall Walk and Goring's Mead, off Brighton Road in Horsham, when she was attacked from behind and sexually assaulted.

Her shouts and screams alerted local residents and deterred the man, who ran off.

She suffered cuts and bruises, and is now being supported by specially trained officers.

Police attended and searched the area.

Officers arrested a man aged 21 on suspicion of the assault at 3.25pm.

After being interviewed the man was released on police bail until October 7 while enquiries continue.

Detective Constable Della Squires of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit said: "If you saw anything suspicious in that area early on Saturday morning, or if you have seen any apparently discarded items nearby that seem strange to the area, please contact us either online or by calling 101, quoting serial 195 of 12/09."