Police are urging witnesses to come forward after a woman was subjected to a sickening sex attack outside a St Annes primary school this week.

The 25-year-old local victim, who remains unnamed, was targeted as she walked past Heyhouses Junior School, St Annes Road East in the town, at around 5.20pm on Monday evening.

A man approached her from behind and carried out an indecent assault. He made his escape after the startled woman began screaming for help. The badly-shaken victim then managed to make her way home, unharmed, where she contacted police.

Police are now eager to speak to any passing motorists as well as a pair of men believed to have been walking around 50 to 60 yards away, on the opposite side of the road, at the time of the attack.

A Blackpool police spokesman said: "We urge any of the motorists who passed the victim, or indeed, offender, to get in touch immediately.

"And we would particularly like to speak to the two males which the victim remembers seeing at the time of the attack."

The offender was white, around 5ft 7ins tall, in his mid 30s to early 40s, wearing a black woollen hat, a dark blue puffa jacket and white trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blackpool police on 01253 293933 or, in confidence, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting crime reference AL381.