A MAN who ran up to an 11-year-old girl in Blackburn, pulled down her trousers and sexually assaulted her is being hunted by police.

Detectives are appealing for information after the youngster was attacked at 9pm last night as she waited at a pedestrian crossing.

The incident happened on the corner of Infirmary Street and Bolton Road.

The man then ran away past the Lockside Tavern pub and possibly onto the canal tow path.

DS Mark Saunders said: “This is a serious offence against a young girl in a very public place and we need people’s help to catch the man responsible.

"I’d urge anybody that recognises this man’s description or with any information that could assist with our investigation to come forward.”

The man is described as Asian, in his 30s and around 5ft 7inches tall.

He had dark short shaved hair with a long ‘pointy’ dark full faced beard down past his chin.

He was wearing a blue Adidas short sleeved top, with white signs on the front and back, plain tracksuit bottoms and blue Nike trainers.

Anyone with any information should call Lancashire Police on 101.