POLICE are searching for a man who indecently assaulted a girl of nine in daylight.

The girl had been playing with friends in Jameson Road, in the Owton Manor area of Hartlepool, on Sunday.

After a while, she walked further up the street to sit alone on the pavement when a man approached her at about 8pm.

They talked briefly before the man touched her.

She shouted and he ran off in the direction he had come from, towards Jedburgh Road.

The man was in his 30s, 5ft 10in with green-blue eyes and had stubble. He had bushy eyebrows and long, dark brown hair. He spoke with a local accent and wore a dark blue T-shirt, light blue baggy jeans and red Nike trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to call (01642) 302126.