DETECTIVES are appealing for information after a teenage girl was sexually assaulted by a group of youths at the weekend.

The attack happened as the 17-year-old victim was walking home after attending a barbecue at a friend's house on Saturday night.

Although friends offered to walk home with her, she insisted on going on her own.

After walking through the town centre, she was only a few metres from her home when she was followed by a group of youths who appeared to come from the direction of Blakes pub, which is in Central Avenue, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

The youths followed her for a short distance before bundling her to the ground about 150 yards from the pub, not far from the doctors' surgery in Bewick Crescent, where they carried out the sexual attack.

The incident is thought to have taken place at about 12.30am.

The victim, who has shoulder length dark hair and was wearing a yellow top and white trousers, managed to find her way home and contact the police.

Detective Sergeant Lee Herridge said: "She is physically unhurt but obviously still traumatised by what happened.

"We are anxious to speak to anyone who might have seen her walking through the town centre, or anyone who was in the vicinity of Blakes between 12.15am and 1am."

Anyone with information is asked to contact CID at Newton Aycliffe on (01325) 314401 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.