DETECTIVES are hunting a man who forced a woman into a car and subjected her to a terrifying sexual assault.

The woman, in her thirties, was grabbed from behind and pushed into her Peugeot car before being indecently assaulted in the car park of Hornbeam railway station, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The attack took place on Monday, at about 10.35am, after the woman had arrived by train in the town from Leeds.

Police are now appealing for public help to track down the man, who is described as white, aged about 50, 5ft 10in tall, with short brown hair.

He was wearing dark trousers.

The woman, who police said was left extremely shaken by the incident, is about 5ft 8in tall, slim, with long, blonde hair. She was wearing a black skirt and green jacket.

Anyone who was travelling on the 10am train from Leeds, which arrived in Harrogate at 10.31am, or witnesses to the incident, should contact police on (01423) 505541.