A WOMAN has reported being sexually assaulted in Laindon on Saturday morning, with detectives now appealing for information.

A 19-year-old local woman was walking along Elizabeth Way into Laindon Link at around 4am on Saturday, May 10, when a man sexually assaulted her – she was unharmed but shaken.

Officers want to hear from anyone who was in the Laindon Link area at the time and may have witnessed the incident.

The woman described the attacker as being white and wearing black clothes and white trainers.

Detective inspector Caroline Williams, leading the investigation, said: "House-to-house enquiries have been carried out in the area and detectives are carrying out numerous lines of enquiry into this incident.

"We especially want to hear from anyone who was walking or driving through the area any time before or after 4am to establish if they might have seen this man lurking in the area or running away.

“We believe that a man dressed all in white was in the vicinity and may have witnessed the assault or have seen the suspect.

"We would advise all members of the public to take sensible precautions to reduce their chances of becoming victims of such attacks, especially when they are out on their own at night."

Anyone with information should call Dc Jackie Spooner at Rayleigh Sexual Offences Investigation Team on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.