A TEENAGER was punched and grabbed by a stranger in an unprovoked attack as she walked through Warminster town centre.

The attack on the 15-year-old girl happened as she walked along Furlong, heading towards Fairfield Road from from the direction of East Street, at around 8.35pm on Thursday.

A man in his mid-30s approached her and asked for a cigarette. When she declined he tried to snatch the cigarette she was smoking from her hand. She fought back by burning him on his left hand with the cigarette, and he pushed her against a wall and punched her in the face.

As the teenager tried to run away the attacker grabbed her round the waist. She elbowed him and managed to escape to a nearby friend's house.

Pc Jim Suter from Warminster police said: "It is very concerning that a young girl minding her own business was attacked by a complete stranger.

"We are very keen to track down and identify the man responsible. We have scanned CCTV footage without success and we've been through CCTV at a nearby store."

The man is clean shaven, stocky and about 6ft 3ins tall, with short brown hair. He was wearing a light-coloured trousers and a dark top. He had a gold sovereign ring on one of his fingers and spoke with a mild northern accent.

Anybody who witnessed the incident or knows anything about it should contact Warminster police.