An 11-year-old girl has been left unable to sleep after being assaulted on her way home from school.

The girl had been making her way home between 3.15pm and 3.35pm from Hackbridge Primary School along the path by the River Wandle, near River Gardens and into Strawberry Lane when she was approached three times by the same man.

Despite attempts each time to run away, the girl was assaulted before finally reaching the safety of her home.

Deeply affected by the incident on Tuesday, January 29, it took her six days to pluck up the courage to tell her parents.

The suspect is described as a 5ft 10in Asian man, aged in his 20s, of medium build.

He was wearing baggy blue jeans with a black belt, possibly a black jacket and a bandana under his baseball cap.

Anyone with information should contact DC White on 020 8649 0733 or 020 8649 0747 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.