Police have appealed for witnesses after a schoolgirl was followed by a man and then assaulted.

The man approached the 16-year-old girl on the corner of Jackson Road and Pier Avenue, Clacton.

He started to walk with her and spoke to her and, despite protests from the girl, refused to leave her alone.

The girl went into the London Discount Store in Old Road, where the man offered to buy her a can of Coke.

PC Debbie Simpson said the girl left the shop and walked up to Magdalen Green where she went into a phone box and dialled 999.

The man then fled.

She added: "He saw her do this and turned and walked away. He was speaking to her all the time and had quite a strong foreign accent. She did not recognise him and he was walking with her quite a way, no matter how many times she told him to go away."

PC Simpson said the man did not make any improper suggestion but did assault the girl. The girl, who is from Clacton and set to start her GCSE exams, was said to be "extremely upset".

Police today appealed for any witnesses of the incident to come forward. The incident happened between 9.15am and 9.45am on Bank Holiday Monday.

The man is described as of Asian appearance, of slim build, 5ft 7ins tall and in his early 20s. He had a full moustache and wore a dark jacket, possibly navy blue, dark trousers and white trainers.

PC Simpson said several people might have seen the man and the girl, and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone with details should call Clacton police on 01255 221312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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