Police are hunting a middle-aged man who sexually assaulted a boy in Oxford.

As reported in yesterday's Oxford Mail, the 10-year-old was attacked while walking down the alleyway which connects Aldbarton Drive with Barton Village Road on the Barton estate on Tuesday afternoon.

Police have not given details of the assault, which happened at about 4.30pm, but it is believed a man approached the boy from behind and touched him inappropriately. The youngster managed to break free and run home.

Tim Wiseman, Oxford police spokesman, said no arrests had been made and an e-fit would be released next week.

He said: "The Child Protection Sex Crimes Unit, which is part of CID, is involved in tracking down possible offenders but we are not linking it to anything else."

The boy gave evidence to police via video yesterday. His father told the Oxford Mail: "The next stage is getting the e-fit out to see if he is known by anyone. That is what we have to hope for so he is caught.

"Everyone on the estate is scared. It is quite a small community and everyone is talking about it."

The boy's mother praised her son for the way he handled the attack. She said: "He went to post a letter for me. The man grabbed him but he was brave. He screamed and said he'd call the police, then escaped and ran away.

"He came running to the house and was really upset. He could hardly speak as he had run so hard. He was really shaken."

Pc Phillip Gardiner, based at St Aldate's police station, described the offender as white, blue-eyed, around 6ft tall, slim to medium build with short, greyish brown hair, unshaven and wearing a dark coloured zipper jacket.

Local schools have been told about the attack, and people are being warned to take particular care.