A 25-year-old woman was sexually assaulted in the street in Brighton.

The woman was walking home along St Michael's Place, off Clifton Hill, at about 3.40am last Thursday.

Police were unable to explain why they waited six days to release details of the attack.

The woman was grabbed from behind, pushed against a van and sexually assaulted.

The man ran off when a person living nearby heard her screams and shouted from the the window.

The victim was described as shaken and distressed, but not physically injured.

The suspect is described as in his 20's, short, stocky, with dark blond hair. He was wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt.

Anyone who saw the attack or saw the man running off is asked to contact Sussex Police via 0845 6070999 quoting Serial 742 of December 10.