A TEENAGE girl was sexually assaulted as she walked home along Weymouth seafront.

The 17-year-old Weymouth girl was walking along the Esplanade and had just turned into Astrid Way when the man pounced.

The attacker, who had been following his victim along the Esplanade, tried to force the girl to kiss him before sexually assaulting her.

She managed to break free from her attacker and ran home where she managed to raise the alarm.

Police have launched a major investigation into the attack and are appealing for any witnesses to get in touch as soon as possible.

The attack happened in the early hours of Sunday morning and investigating officers are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Detective Constable Tracey Cambridge of Weymouth CID said: "The victim was walking home in the early hours in the early hours of Sunday morning when she became aware of a man following her.

"She walked along the Esplanade toward the clock tower and then under the underpass into Astrid Way.

"When she entered Astrid Way the man grabbed hold of her before kissing her neck and inappropriately touching her over her clothing.

"She was able to break away from the attacker and then run home."

She added that following the incident the victim was shocked but uninjured as a result of the attack.

The attacker was described white, with tanned skin, had a deep voice and appeared to be drunk.

Dc Cambridge added: "Unfortunately no further description of the offender is possible.

"I am appealing to anyone who witnessed this incident or anyone with information about the man responsible to contact me as soon as possible.

"I would also like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious or unusual involving a man and a teenage girl along the Esplanade and Astrid Way in the early hours of Sunday May 3 to contact me urgently."

Anyone with information should contact 01305 222222.

HOTELIERS and businesses on Weymouth's seafront are calling for added security and CCTV for the area where the attack took place.

This follows the sexual assault and a spate of vandalism and criminal damage along Crescent Street in the last year.

The hoteliers from Weymouth's popular seafront hotels, that back onto Crescent street, say they are fed up with the behaviour and problems on the road and urge the authorities to clean up the road and enhance security by adding CCTV cameras.

Owner of the Concorde hotel on the Esplanade, Daniel Flower said: "We have been having problems from around the back on Crescent Street.

"It seems the council have spent so much on the facelift for the front but ignored the area one street behind.

"There are a number of abandoned houses on the road as well as the problem with drug addicts and people that are hanging around there.

"I would welcome anything that would make the road better especially CCTV - at the moment I am getting a dog so that I can leave the place with peace of mind."

Next door at the Langham owner Geoff Barrett said CCTV would be welcome to act as a deterrent for assaults and misbehaviour in the road.

Owner of the Carlton Hotel Joanne Southgate said she was 'shocked' an attack took place on the road next door and added: "I have lived all my life in the Park District and now it has turned into a well known drug haven.

"There has been a number of incidents over the years and I would like to see cameras put in on the corner that could possibly deter people from hanging around there."

Local resident Sarah Stambridge, 30, said the area has got so bad that she would not walk alone at night or allow her 11-year-old daughter out on the street in the dark.

"The area has become renowned for drug addicts.

"Crescent Street and the roads around it used to look lovely but now look like a dustbin.

"It is unsafe here at night and you never know when things are going to happen - my car has been vandalised four times in the last few years and something needs to be done.

"It makes me embarrassed to live here to be honest and it's just getting worse."

The Waterside Weymouth Community Forum campaigns on issues on behalf of residents in the Park District.

Chairman Ken Whatley said: "I think it's very sad this has happened but it's certainly not indicative of the area.

"Things have improved in recent years and I don't think people realise the work the police have been doing behind the scenes, particularly efforts by the Safer Neighbourhood Team.

"They do patrol the area but I would imagine at that time of the morning the police focus would have been on the people spilling out of the pubs and clubs in town.

"I'm not a big fan of CCTV personally because it only pushes a problem to another area. Calls are regularly made for more cameras but there's the whole town to think about and it's very expensive."

Mr Whatley said he hoped the incident would prompt awareness of personal safety at night, particularly among young people.

He added that anyone who has concerns about crime or any other issue should attend the next meeting of the Melcombe Regis Partners and Communities Together (Pact) panel.

Helen Frances, general manager for Facilities and Business Operations at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: "There are some 32 CCTV cameras in the Weymouth, most of which cover town centre areas such as the train station, subways and Esplanade.

"Although there are currently no CCTV cameras covering Crescent Street or Astrid Way specifically, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is always assessing its effectiveness."