A NEWSPAPER delivery girl was pounced on and dragged screaming into an alley by a suspected sex attacker this morning.

And the traumatised teenage victim was only saved by a middle-aged couple who saw the struggle and ran to help.

Police are now hunting the attacker who struck at around 7.30am in Saltburn as the 14-year-old girl, who has been left traumatised by the ordeal, was completing her round.

The attacker, who was described as fat and in his 20s, pounced as the girl passed opposite Watson's Garage in Windsor Road and attempted to drag her into an alley opposite.

Detective Inspector Gordon Lang, from Redcar CID, said: "Fortunately, the couple spotted a struggle and went to help.

"The attacker ran off underneath the nearby railway bridge in the direction of Marske."

The man is described as being between 5ft 5 and 5ft 7 with a small face.

Det Insp Lang added: "It is possible the girl had been followed before the man struck.

It was a terrible ordeal for her.

"She was forced up this alley and but for the intervention of this couple, events could have been much worse. She has suffered a terrifying ordeal that has left her very badly shaken and shocked."

Det Insp Lang said that the incident is being treated as an isolated event and is not being linked to a string of attempted child abductions in east Cleveland at the end of the year 2000.

He said: "The last thing I want to do is spread fear, it is a one off.

"The descriptions are completely different and what happened is different. It is difficult to give people advice but they should take care when they are out on the streets on their own when it is dark."

Police are anxious to speak to anyone who was in the area between 7am and 7.45am and can be called on (01642) 302026 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.