DETECTIVES investigating a sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl in Bromley have released CCTV footage and images of a man they want to trace in connection with the incident.

The teenager was walking along Plaistow Lane near St Joseph’s School when a man started talking to her.

She walked on but he approached her again as she got to the junction with Edward Road, opposite Sundridge Park Management Centre, and grabbed her and pulled her into an access road.

There he sexually assaulted her before she managed to run away and seek help.

It is not known in which direction the man went.

Police say the suspect is a white man, possibly aged 45 to 50, of heavy build with dark hair.

He was wearing a navy blue polo shirt and navy blue trousers and had sunglasses pushed to the top of his head at the time of the incident at around 9am on July 14.

Bromley police spokesman acting Detective Chief Inspector Alex Phipps said: "We are urgently trying to trace this man.

"It was a quiet, residential area, around 9am.

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the area either on foot or in car.

“Did you see anything of this suspect?

“Did you see him in the area prior to this incident or leaving the area?

"Do you recognise the man from the images?"

Anyone with any information should call the police on 020 8284 8859 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 to remain anonymous.