Police are hunting a sex attacker who assaulted a teenage girl as she sat on a bench.

The victim was on a footpath off Castle Road, Tunbridge Wells, close to Wellington Rocks, when she was approached by a man.

He sat next to her and after striking up a conversation, hugged the girl. He is then said to have carried out a "serious assault".

He was last seen then heading in the direction of Mount Ephraim.

The suspect was Asian and no taller than 5ft 3. He was of average build, bald and aged between 30 and 40.

He was wearing jeans and a waist-length jacket with no hood, and had a heavy accent.

Following the attack at around 5.15pm on Monday, Detective Inspector Darren Reynolds said: "We are following a number of lines of inquiry and would appeal to anyone who has any information, no matter how small it might be, to contact us as soon as possible.

"This is being treated as an isolated incident and we are continuing to support the victim."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 01622 604100, quoting reference YY/035568/17, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.