A teenage girl fought off a masked man who attacked her in an alleyway in Blackbird Leys, Oxford.

The 14-year-old was walking along a footpath off Sandy Lane, running between Kent Close and Ladenham Road, when she was approached by a man from an alleyway which runs towards Balfour Road at about 8am yesterday.

He grabbed her so she lashed out at his face and bit his hand then fled along Sandy Lane towards Watlington Road.

The attacker is described as around 6ft tall, skinny dressed all in black and wearing a hooded top with the hood up and a dark-coloured scarf over his face.

Dc Miranda Moore of Oxford CID said: "We are unsure what this man's motives were because the girl put up a fight and got away.

"Were you in the Sandy Lane area yesterday morning and did you see anything suspicious? Perhaps you saw a man hanging around or heard a teenager shouting and screaming.

"This man may have been left with bruises to his face and a bite mark on his hand - do you anyone who has received similar injuries in the past 24 hours? If so, please get in touch."

Anyone with information should contact police on 08458 505505 or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.