Police are hunting a mystery man who snatched a seven-year-old girl from a family party.
The girl had been playing with other children during a family gathering at Portslade Town Hall in Victoria Road when she was grabbed.
She had been playing with other children in the foyer but became separated from them. A man who had been sitting in the foyer dragged her outside.
He then pushed the girl through a fence and she fell into bushes.
A police spokeswoman said: "She was frightened and had bruises and scratches from the brambles."
The man told the girl to wait and fled the scene at 12.15am yesterday. She waited a while, then returned to the gathering.
Police described the man as in his late 20s to mid 50s, between 5ft 6in and 5ft 10in tall, with short dark straight hair.
He wore a red padded jacket, blue jeans and white trainers.
Anyone with information should call 0845 6070999.
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