A 14-year-old schoolgirl was sexually assaulted in broad daylight at an Oxford bus stop.

The teenager was waiting for a bus at the junction of Cowley Road and St Nicholas Road in Littlemore at about 8.40am on Wednesday when a man attacked her, police said yesterday.

He was thought to be wearing a balaclava.

The incident was the eighth sex attack on young women in the county in the past four months, although it is not being linked to the previous incidents.

In total, police have released information on seven sex attacks in Oxford so far this year, and 12 elsewhere in the county.

Police are hoping someone may have spotted the man in the area because it was during the morning rush hour.

The man - described as wearing a black tracksuit and a black balaclava - approached the victim and grabbed her by the shoulders.

He sexually assaulted her before the girl managed to struggle free and run away.

Pc Tim Harding, of Thames Valley Police, who is investigating the incident, said: "The girl was not injured but was left shaken by the attack.

"The man was very distinctively dressed.

"He has tanned hands. Other people must have seen him.

"If you saw what happened or have any information that would help our inquiry, please contact me immediately."

Det Insp Simon Morton, of Oxford CID, added: "This was a serious incident and we would appeal for the public to help us as much as possible.

"It was broad daylight and a busy time of the day so there must be several people who either saw the girl at the bus stop or the man in the area who could help our inquiry.

"Even if you think what you saw was not significant, it could actually be vital to us so we would appeal for any motorists or people walking to work or school in the neighbourhood to please come forward."

In July, it was revealed that the number of sex offences in Oxfordshire had increased by almost a quarter in the last year.

Police spokesman James Clements said: "We do not wish to alarm people and attacks like this are very unusual.

"Our advice to women is not to walk alone, particularly in the dark, and to wear bright clothing so you can be seen, especially by passing motorists.

"Make sure you have a mobile phone on you.

"If you are approached or if you feel uncomfortable or under threat walk, run away as quickly as possible and go into a shop or a pub and alert people that you feel endangered."

Anyone with information should contact Pc Harding on 08458 505505. If you do not wish to speak to police or give your name you can contact the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.

Attacks in Oxford

On Friday, October 27, a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in South Park, Oxford.

On Tuesday, October 24, a woman fought off an attacker who sexually assaulted her in a north Oxford street.

On Saturday, July 15, a 15-year-old girl was subjected to a sex attack as she walked through an alley in Blackbird Leys.

On July 12, an 18-year-old woman was indecently assaulted by a man claiming to be a taxi driver after she was picked up at the Head of the River pub in Oxford.

A week earlier a 13-year-old was touched inappropriately by a man in McDonalds restaurant in Cornmarket Street.

On March 13, a woman in her early 20s told police she had been raped on a towpath near Upper Fisher Row in Oxford.

In Oxfordshire

On Thursday, September 14, an 11-year-old girl was approached by a man in Southmoor near Abingdon, who made suggestive comments.

Police said they were not ruling out a link with an attack on a 10-year-old girl in Bampton on Wednesday, September 6. The victim was walking home when a man assaulted her.

On July 4, a teenage girl in Kidlington fought off a man who tried to sexually assault her.

On February 28, a 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in an alleyway in Wastie's Lane, Eynsham.

On January 13, a sex attacker pushed a 14-year-old schoolgirl on to railings in Park End Street, Oxford, and indecently assaulted her.

Police were unable supply the total number of sex assaults in the county so far this year.