A WOMAN was punched and almost sexually assaulted by a man in Cheltenham yesterday morning.

Police in the town are appealing for witnesses after the incident took place on Queen's Road ar around 2.30am on Sunday, August 31.

A woman in her 20s was attacked by a man who punched her and then tried to sexually assault her.

She managed to break free of the attacker and raise the alarm.

The man is described as white, in his late 30s or early 40s, 5ft 8ins - 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build, bald and wearing a pale blue cotton shirt and dark trousers.

Detective constable Faye Satchwell-Bennett said: "This was an unprovoked attack that left the victim extremely distressed and with some physical injuries," she said. "Obviously stranger attacks like this are very uncommon so it is concerning.

"I can reassure the community we are doing everything we can to trace the man responsible but in the meantime we need the public's help.

"The area is well lit and residential so we're hoping someone may have seen something."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident 68 of August 31.