DETECTIVES investigating a sex attack on a young woman are trying to trace two girls who may have vital information.

The victim was pushed up against a shop front and indecently assaulted by a man who had followed her into a side road from Gravesend town centre.

The 19-year-old was walking alone along Parrock Street at about 1.20am last Friday when she suddenly became aware of someone following her. She crossed the road but realised the man had also crossed and was only a short distance away.

The man grabbed her with both arms and pushed her against shop security shutters.

After indecently assaulting the woman the attacker pushed her to the ground and ran away. The victim did not receive any physical injuries as a result of the ordeal.

Police say two teenage girls who are believed to have been walking past on the opposite direction at the time may have seen the incident and hold the key to finding the attacker.

Detectives have made an appeal for these two girls to come forward. The attacker is described as a thin man, about 5ft 8in tall, with a distinctive bent or broken nose.

He was wearing black shoes and trousers and a light blue hooded top that was up over his head. He had a large number of sovereign gold rings on one hand. He had a local accent and spoke with a deep gruff voice.

A police spokesman said: "We would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Kent Police on 01322 283111 or Crimestoppers, free and confidentially on 0800 555111.