Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a serious sexual assault in Watford during the early hours of Saturday, July 26.

At around 2.45am the victim, a 24-year-old woman, had been walking along Rickmansworth Road near to its junction with Harwoods Road, when she said she was approached from behind by a man.

The woman said the man, described as a black man of around 5ft 6ins tall, who was clean shaven and had a bald head, pushed her to the floor before sexually assaulting her.

He was wearing a navy blue short sleeved shirt with a circular pattern on with the top button undone and faded denim boot cut jeans.

Detective Constable Louise Cleary from the specialist Sexual Offences Investigation Team investigating, said: "This was a nasty assault on a young woman and I would appeal to anyone who has any information about this incident to contact police without delay.

"Whilst I appreciate it happened in the early hours of the morning, there may have been people around who will have seen what happened, the events leading up to this assault or have seen the offender in the area.

"I would like to reassure people visiting Watford to enjoy a night out that the town is a safe place to visit however; I would ask people to consider some simple safety tips to help prevent them from becoming a victim of crime."

Anyone with information can telephone DC Cleary via the Herts Police non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference number C1/14/3428. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.