A young girl fled in terror after a man grabbed her in broad daylight on a village street. The girl, aged 11, was walking close to All Saints Lower School near her home in Clifton on Saturday lunchtime when the mystery man grabbed her from behind and atte

A young girl fled in terror after a man grabbed her in broad daylight on a village street.

The girl, aged 11, was walking close to All Saints Lower School near her home in Clifton on Saturday lunchtime when the mystery man grabbed her from behind and attempted to kiss her.

Police say the girl ran to a nearby shop for help and raised the alarm.

Within minutes several police officers attended the incident and a search was made of the centre of the village but there was no sign of the man.

The attacker is described as of Asian appearance, 5ft 4ins tall, aged between 18 and 25, wearing a brown leather jacket, blue jeans and trainers.

"She managed to struggle and free herself from her attacker and ran off into a nearby shop for help. We are treating this as a sexual assault," said a police spokesman.

Police say the attacker left the area on foot and they are now appealing to anyone who was in the area around 12.20pm to contact them immediately.

"Somebody might have seen this man running in the area at the time of the attack which might help us track him down," added the police spokesman.

Police say they are not linking the assault with an incident the previous Sunday in woods near Chicksands where a man, also wearing a brown leather jacket, tried to knock a young girl from a horse with a branch.

Anyone with information should contact the investigating officer Pc Paul Roach on 01234 841212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.