A young woman was raped in the early hours after being snatched from an East Sussex street, it emerged today.

The 21-year-old victim was walking along The Ridge, Hastings, towards Ore after a night out when a man approached her.

Police say he dragged her into nearby Winchelsea Road where he carried out the assault. He then ran off towards the Miller Arms pub.

Detectives today appealed for information about the attack, which happened at 1am on Sunday.

The man was white, 6ft tall, of medium build and in his mid-Thirties, with cropped brown spiky hair. He wore a dark waist-length jacket and dark trousers.

His victim was wearing a loose fitting multicoloured calf-length dress and high heeled sandals. She is white, 5ft 8in tall, slim, and has shoulder-length wavy brown hair.

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact Detective Constable Rob Morland at Hastings CID on 01424 456108.