POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted near an underpass on the M32.

The woman was walking along a footpath between Lower Ashley Down Road and Mina Road, close to the M32 underpass, when she was pushed against a fence by an unknown man who sexually assaulted her.

Police said the victim fought off the man and started screaming, attracting the attention of cyclists in the area who came over.

The suspect then walked off towards Lower Ashley Down Road.

A police spokesman said: "The man is described as black, between 25 and 30 years old, of slim build and approximately 5ft 11ins tall.

"He had a short beard and was wearing a hoody up over his head or a baseball cap, a dark coloured jacket and possibly blue jeans and black trainers."

The incident took place last Friday, November 20 at 5.50pm on the footpath

Police want to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time or who have information which could lead to the identification of the man.

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 5215045145.