POLICE have renewed their appeal for witnesses to an indecent assault two months ago.

A 16-year-old girl was attacked by a man in his early forties as she walked home along Bracken Hill Avenue, Shotton Colliery, east Durham, at 6pm Monday, February 14, after visiting friends.

She was dragged on to grass behind houses where the man tried to remove her clothes and indecently assaulted her.

She broke free and ran off when her attacker was distracted by a passing car. A passer-by who found her in a distressed state raised the alarm.

Detective Sergeant Joanne Long said the girl was severely shaken by her ordeal but was not seriously hurt.

"I would urge anyone with information about this matter to contact us,'' she said.

The attacker is 5ft 4in, skinny, with large ears, dark eyebrows and piercing blue eyes and bleached hair sticking up at the front. He spoke with a Hartlepool accent and was wearing a Puffa-style jacket.

A man has been arrested and released on bail pending further inquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peterlee CID on 0845 6060365