A girl was sexually assaulted and threatened by a man in Ipswich yesterday afternoon.

The incident happened in the Norwich Road area between 5.05pm and 5.20pm on Thursday.

Suffolk police said the girl was walking from Bramford Lane into Brooks Hall Road when she was approached by a man that she did not know.

The man then sexually assaulted the victim before threatening her and walking off in the direction of Norwich Road.

The man is believed to have been aged between 20 and 40, was white, about 5ft 10ins tall and of an average build.

He had light brown neck-length shaggy hair, spoke with an English accent and was wearing dark clothing and a knitted top and was pushing a bicycle.

The victim and her family are being supported by specially trained officers.

Police will be patrolling the area and officers are encouraging people with information to speak to them.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Suffolk police, quoting crime reference number 37/74798/22.