DETECTIVES are hunting a man who abducted a 10-year-old schoolgirl and then carried out a serious sexual assault. The girl had just left the Shuttles Youth Club in Ashford when the attack happened. She was grabbed and taken to an area of trees and shrubbery near Speldhurst Close, on the Stanhope estate, and left injured as the offender fled from the scene.

The girl ran to a nearby house for help and the police were called. The attack happened between 9pm and 9.30pm on Thursday night after the girl left the youth club at the Ray Allen Centre on the Stanhope estate.

She is now safe and back with her parents. She is a local girl who police say was seriously traumatised. The attacker was a stranger to her but the police assume he had a good knowledge of the area. Det Chief Insp Colin Murray said it was an unprovoked vicious attack on a defenceless girl. The offender is described as a white man wearing a blue jumper and blue jeans.

Mr Murray added: "If anyone has any information I urge them to telephone 01622 654580."