Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted in St Albans in the early hours of this morning.

A woman in her 20's was grabbed from behind by a man who pushed her to the floor on a grassy area and sexually assaulted her between 3.30am and 3.45am as she walked along Blundell Close.

The suspect is described as a man in his early 20s who was between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 8ins tall who spoke with a local accent.

Detective Inspector Dee Perkins from the Sexual Offences Investigation Unit is leading the investigation and said: “I would like to appeal to anyone who may have been in the area in the early hours of this morning and who saw anything suspicious to contact police.

“Understandably this incident has left the victim extremely shaken and she is being supported by specialist officers.

“We fully appreciate these crimes can cause concern within the community but I would like to reassure people that we are fully investigating the incident.”

Anyone with information should the Herts police non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference number F1/13/4018. Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.