POLICE are searching for a man who chased an 11-year-old schoolgirl through an alleyway on Maidstone's Shepway estate.

The incident happened as the girl walked through the alleyway linking Highland Road to Essex Road, shortly before 5pm on Monday, February 16.

She noticed a man standing in the middle of the alley and as she passed him he began running after her and chased her into another passageway linking Highland Road to Westmorland Road.

The girl escaped by running into her home.

The man stopped chasing her when he reached Westmorland Road.

He is described as white, aged between 18 and 20 years, 5ft 5ins tall and wearing a light blue hooded top and a baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police on 01622 608189 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.