A HUNT is underway today to find a sex attacker who subjected a young woman to a terrifying assault as she walked home.

The 24-year-old woman was grabbed from behind by a man who put his arm around her throat and his hand over her mouth.

She was then wrestled to the ground and indecently assaulted.

The frightening ordeal only came to an end when the attacker realised he was being watched by people waiting at a nearby bus stop and he fled.

The attack happened in Derby Road, Eastleigh, at its junction with Grantham Green around 11.50pm last night.

A woman and two men rushed to help the victim and walked her to Desborough Road before they left her and got on a bus.

Now police are urgently trying to trace the three Good Samaritans who could hold vital information to help them find the man responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Stuart Beale at Eastleigh police station on 101.

  • A 28-year-old Eastleigh man was arrested around 2am this morning and is in custody at Southampton Central police station.