DETECTIVES are searching for a knife-wielding man who indecently assaulted a 16-year-old girl in East Malling, near Maidstone.

The attacker, who wore a black trench coat, black benny hat and a black scarf over most of his face, bumped in to the girl as she walked out of an alleyway in Dickens Drive.

He mumbled an apology but then pulled out an eight or nine-inch-long kitchen knife and threatened her with it. He told her to take off her trousers but was disturbed by noises, possibly coming from a group of people walking towards the scene from the A20.

The man then ran off. The attack happened on Sunday between 10.30pm and 10.45pm. A police spokeswoman said: "Had the people not come up the road, we can't tell what could have happened.

"The potential for a horrible situation was there. We can't rule out that there's a possibility it could happen again."

The spokeswoman urged people living in the area to walk in groups or travel by car. The offender is described as white, aged between 25 and 35, 5ft 8in and stocky. Police are now appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with any information is asked to telephone Det Con Vicki Rixon on 01622 608182 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.