Police are hunting a suspect who attacked a teenage girl from behind with an unknown object as she walked alone this morning.

The 19-year-old was on a footbridge between Osborne Road and Essella Road in Ashford at about 9.20am when the assault happened.

A man approached her from behind and struck her with the weapon causing a number of injuries.

She is now being treated at a nearby hospital, a police spokesman said.

The attack was not sexually motivated and nothing was stolen, he added.

The suspect is described as a white man aged between 30 to 40, 6ft tall with short, curly brown hair.

Officers would like to hear from a dog walker who was in the area at the time and may have seen the victim and the suspect.

Anyone who can help with the investigation is asked to contact Detective Constable Samuel Minichiello on 01843 222289 quoting reference 08-499.