A TEENAGE girl was the victim of a sex attack when a pervert tried to rape her over the bonnet of a Land Rover.

The 17-year-old was attacked as she walked home after a night out with friends in Chester-le-Street town centre on Monday.

The teenager left one end of Front Street and walked through a cut, at about 11pm, between Clem's Fish Shop and the nearby car park and onto Osborne Road.

As she got to the pelican crossing, she became aware of footsteps behind her, and as she passed the junction with Avondale Terrace she was grabbed from behind and dragged into an alley.

She was thrown to the ground, kicked in the head, and then thrown onto the bonnet of a Land Rover where the attacker tried to rape her.

When he ran off, the terrified girl went to a nearby Indian takeaway to call the police.

Detective Inspector Andy Reddick said the victim, who was 5ft 10in tall, slim and wearing a baseball cap, may have been followed from the town centre.

He said: "She had been subjected to a vicious and sustained assault that left her deeply shocked and very distressed.

"We want to hear from anyone who may have seen her as she walked home, or from anyone who heard or saw the attack, or the man who carried it out."

The attacker was described as a white male with short hair, wearing glasses and a dark top - possibly polar or crew-necked - with a broad and light-coloured hoop across the chest and arms. He was also wearing light-coloured trousers.

Anyone with information should contact Chester-le-Street CID on 0191-388 4311, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111