A WOMAN was rugby tackled to the ground and sexually assaulted in bushes in a Southampton park.

The violent attack happened as the 19-year-old walked home from a night out in the city centre, in the early hours of this morning.

At around 3.10am, the woman was asked for a cigarette by a man at an Above Bar Street bus stop.

She replied no and carried on walking, turning down past the Que Pasa bar, through Palmerston Park and onto New Road.

The woman was then rugby tackled from behind and taken behind some bushes at the edge of the park, where the man sexually assaulted her.

She managed to push him off and run away.

The attacker is described as Asian in appearance, around 5ft 7 inches tall, about 20-years-old with dark spiky hair.

He was clean shaven and wore a polo top and dark blue jeans and brown Velcro trainers.

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious, or has information about the crime should call Detective Constable Kimberley Bownes at Southampton Central Police Station on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.