A teenage girl was sexually assaulted while walking through an Ipswich park on her way home at the weekend, police have said.

Officers are now appealing for information in relation to the incident, which happened at about 3.30am on Friday – it was reported to police on the Saturday.

A 19-year-old woman was walking in Gippeswyk Park, in the direction of Campion Road, near to the basketball courts, when she noticed a man walking towards her.

He asked her where she was going and to come home with him and then came up behind her and grabbed her backside – the victim pushed him away and walked off.

But the man followed her again and grabbed her by the arms. There was a struggle and the 19-year-old freed herself and ran off – she suffered scratches to her arm and shoulder.

The offender is described as a white man, about 40-years-old, of a skinny build and about 6ft. He had a foreign accent and wore a burgundy hooded top with the hood up.

If you have any information in relation to the incident, call Pc Lee Woodward at Ipswich Police on 101, quoting crime reference IW/14/1327. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.