POLICE are hunting a baby-faced attacker who pounced on a 20-year-old woman in an alleyway.

The victim, who lives in Chippenham, was grabbed from behind at around 2.20am on Sunday, May 18, as she took a short cut home through the alleyway between Station Hill and St Mary's Place after a night out at Buds Bar, just opposite.

A struggle ensued as the woman fought to protect herself and her attacker then ran off, back through the alleyway and into Station Hill.

Seriously shaken and frightened, but otherwise uninjured, the woman managed to alert the police from her mobile phone and later gave them a detailed description of her assailant.

Det Con Iain Lansdown, of Chippenham police, who is leading the hunt for the attacker, said the victim had been left shaken by the experience.

He revealed that CCTV footage, obtained from a camera in New Road, shows a man fitting the suspect's description, running fast towards Malmesbury Road.

"That area of town is very busy that time on a Sunday morning and we are hoping someone may have seen him and remember him," said Det Con Lansdown. "He wasn't jogging, he was running fast and would have attracted people's attention."

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

He was between 5ft 11-in and six feet, clean shaven, very baby faced and had a local accent with a slightly high-pitched voice. He was believed to be wearing a white shirt with a collar, which was decorated with a large checked pattern.

Anyone with information should ring police on (01249) 654455.