POLICE are hunting a man who indecently assaulted a woman as she walked home from a night out.

The unnamed 42-year-old was left badly shaken after she was attacked as she walked along the cut from Plawsworth Road to Highfield, in Sacriston, just after midnight on Monday morning.

The woman, who had spent most of the night at the New Inn, was a few minutes from home when she was grabbed from behind.

She struggled with her attacker, sustaining a minor shoulder injury, and the man made off.

Detective Constable Bob Nicholson, of Chester-le-Street CID, said: "The attack happened in an area the victim regularly uses on her way home and left her very badly shaken up.

"She spent most of Monday either at the doctor's or at the hospital in Durham, but she is now recovering at home.''

The attacker is described as being well built, about 6ft and in his late thirties.

He was clean shaven, of smart appearance, had a gold sleeper earring in his right ear and wore a light blue short sleeved shirt with a collar.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Nicholson on 0191-388 4311, extension 2336, or can call Crimestoppers anonymously on (0800) 555111.