A 26-year-old woman suffered a serious indecent assault after being dragged into an alleyway in Swindon town centre.

The victim was walking home and her route took her along Regent Street, Havelock Street, Commercial Road and Dowling Street.

She became aware of her attacker near the junction of Commercial Road and Dowling Street around 2.30am yesterday.

The man followed her up the hill and dragged her into an alleyway next to the Tanwood School of Dance, where she was subjected to the serious assault.

The offender may have been disturbed and ran off.

Police are eager to talk to witnesses or anyone who may have seen the victim being followed on the way home.

The attacker is described as white, aged between 18 and 20, young looking, around 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build and wore a dark baseball cap.

The victim is described as white, of slim build, 5ft 5ins tall, with shoulder length brown hair which she was wearing loose.

She was wearing a brown suede leather jacket, a black top, blue jeans and black knee length boots.

Another man, described as white, in his thirties and not connected to the attack, spoke to the victim in Dowling Street soon after the incident.

Det Con Paul Drever said: "It is a very nasty attack and the injured person is fortunate to escape serious consequences."

He added there could be a discrepancy in the time the attack was reported because the clocks went forward an hour that night.

He urged anyone with information to call Swindon police on 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.