AN eight-year-old girl who witnessed a masked man attack a woman in Darlington is being asked to come forward.

The woman was walking her dog near Honeypot Lane, which joins on to Wayland Terrace, at around 7.15pm on Tuesday when a man, who was wearing a balaclava, approached her from nearby woodland and assaulted her.

Durham Police said "investigations are ongoing" and police patrols have been increased in the area.

Witnesses told The Northern Echo, the woman, who suffered minor injuries to her face, was “smacked” and “winded” by the attacker, whose eyes were only just visible due to the balaclava covering his face.

The woman’s dog then bit the attacker, who escaped.

This afternoon police confirmed a young girl may have seen what happened.

"We do believe a young girl witnessed the incident, but wasn’t involved in it or assaulted herself. We are trying to trace her, so anyone who knows who she is is asked to call 101," said a spokeswoman for Durham Police.