A WOMAN walking her dog yesterday evening was approached by a man who allegedly pushed her and then attempted to assault her.

At around 6.05pm the woman was walking her dog in Harperley Woods, near Harperley Hall, Tanfield Lea, when she was approached by the man.

He then pushed her and attempted to assault her before the woman’s dog began barking and the offender ran off towards the Campion Drive area.

The suspect is described as being white, in his late twenties or early thirties, of slim build and between 5ft 8in and 5ft 9in tall.

He had dark bushy eyebrows that meet in the middle, brown eyes, a pockmarked face and spoke with a North-East accent.

He was wearing a dark coloured three quarter length jacket with the hood up, which had a peak. He was also wearing dark coloured shell suit bottoms and dark coloured trainers.

Detectives would like to speak to anyone who may know who the man is, or any dog walkers who may have seen the man in the area at the time.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101, and ask to speak to Temporary Detective Constable Graeme Whitfield in Stanley CID, quoting crime reference number CRI00255960.