DETECTIVES are appealing for information after the attempted rape of a 42-year-old woman in the Middlesbrough area.

She was approached while walking during the early hours of Sunday close to a Royal Cars taxi rank on Marton Road by a man speaking with a possible Eastern European accent.

She walked with the man from Park Vale Road onto Angle Street and then onto Whitfield Avenue, where the offence took place between 4am and 4.30am.

The woman suffered minor injuries which did not require treatment.

Police believe a man standing near to the taxi rank when the woman was approached by the suspect could be a valuable eye witness.

The potential witness is s described as white, in his late 40s to early 50s, of medium build with ‘short back and sides’ hair style and wearing blue jeans and a red top. Officers are appealing for this man to contact them.

The suspect is described as a white, aged 25-27 years old, around 5ft 8” tall, with blonde hair parted and styled with gel with shaven sides. He was of medium or athletic build and was wearing a navy blue, shiny waist-length jacket fastened with a zip to the top, grey or blue jeans and bright white Nike Air Max trainers.

Detective Inspector Matt Murphy-King, from Cleveland Police Major Crime Team, said: “I’d like to appeal to any witnesses who may have seen anything which could be related to this investigation, and in particular I would like to speak to a man who may have been standing at the taxi rank near to the junction of Southfield Road and Marton Road, where the victim was approached by a male. This man could have important information.

“If anyone believes that they may have sighted a man matching the description of the suspect around the time of the incident then we also need to hear from you, or anyone who may have private CCTV in the area of Park Vale Road and Angle Street.

“I would like to reassure local members of the public that there is a team of detectives working on this investigation and that a number of lines of enquiry are being carried out to try to find the person responsible.”

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact DI Matt Murphy-King from Cleveland Police Major Crime Team on the non-emergency number 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.