DETECTIVES are hunting a man who subjected a teenage girl to a serious sexual assault.

The 14-year-old was attacked as she was walking home near Sutton High School.

She had been crossing one of the playing fields when she was grabbed and molested by the man.

The young victim, whose identity is not being revealed, was otherwise uninjured, and is now being comforted at home by her family.

Detective Constable Sean Lonergan, of Ellesmere Port CID, said the attack happened between 8.45 and 9.15pm on Friday.

He said the 14-year-old had been returning home after an evening out with friends.

She left them near the artificial pitch area at Sutton High in Woodchurch Lane. Football games were still in progress there at that time.

The girl decided to walk the rest of the way home alone and took a short-cut across the school's playing fields, heading towards Mill Lane.

As she was three-quarters of the way across the fields she was approached by the man.

He grabbed hold of the girl and subjected her to what police describe as a 'serious sexual assault'. The attacker then ran away.

The man is white, aged 25-30, of stocky build and about 5ft 6-9ins tall. He had dark shaven hair with stubble on his face, and was wearing a waist-length black coat with a zip-up front and dark jeans.

DC Lonergan said: 'This was a very serious incident and the girl was clearly very upset and traumatised by it.

'She is coping reasonably well at the moment with the help of her parents.

'Apart from the sexual assault, she suffered no other physical injuries. She wasn't beaten up in any way and didn't suffer any physical assaults of any other nature.'

DC Lonergan added: 'There were football games going on on the Astroturf at that time, and we ask for anyone who was there to contact us with any information.

'We also ask for any witnesses at all to this incident, anyone who saw the man before or after the attack, or who recognises his description to come forward.'

DC Lonergan can be contacted on 01244 613135. Information can also be left on the free and confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.