POLICE are no closer to tracing a man who assaulted a 20-year-old woman in a Chippenham alleyway and are appealing for more witnesses to come forward.

The attacker, who may have been caught on CCTV, grabbed the woman as she took a shortcut through the alleyway opposite Buds Bar, in Station Hill, at 2.20am on May 18.

The victim, who lives in Chippenham, was grabbed from behind, but managed to fight off the attacker, who ran into Station Hill.

The woman, who was shaken but not injured, rang the police from her mobile phone and later gave them a detailed description of her assailant.

Det Con Iain Lansdown, of Chippenham Police, said that although information had been received following the attack, they were unable find the man.

He said CCTV footage from a camera in New Road shows a man, fitting the suspect's description, running towards Malmesbury Road at 2.20am.

Det Con Lansdown said: "We believe the suspect ran back into Station Hill after the incident and possibly ran down the hill towards the area around the take-away food shops at the bottom.

"Alternatively, someone may have seen him running fast up through New Road and into Malmesbury Road, past the Little George pub.

"He wasn't jogging, he was running fast and would have attracted people's attention."

The suspect is described as white, aged about 19 or 20, with a medium build and short dark, brown hair, which had a gelled fringe.

He was between 5ft 11ins and 6ft, clean shaven, with a baby face and had a local accent and high-pitched voice.

He was wearing a collared shirt with a large checked pattern, jeans and smart trainers. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on (01249) 654455.