OFFICERS are hunting a charity cash collector who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in Whalley.

Police have released a CCTV image of the the man who allegedly attacked the woman in a shop in King Street at 1.15pm on Thursday.

A police spokesman said the man, who claimed he was collecting for a charity bike ride and other charities, had gone to a number of businesses in the area asking for sponsorship but it was in the final shop he entered that he indecently assaulted a 47-year-old woman.

Officers said they are examining CCTV footage in a bid to identify the man and have asked the public for their help to identity him.

But as yet no arrests have been made.

Sgt Dave Simpson said: “This is wholly inappropriate behaviour which is absolutely unacceptable. Fortunately incidents like this are very rare in Whalley and the Ribble Valley as a whole.

“We are searching through CCTV footage to get a name for this man and I would ask anyone who recognises him to get in contact with us straight away.”

The man is described as white, between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10ins tall, 16 to 20- years -old, of slim build and with fair to blonde coloured hair which was swept on the top and short on the side.

He was wearing a white shirt with black buttons and a black patch on the right shoulder, grey jogging bottoms and white trainers.

A police spokesman said: “Do you recognise this man?

“We are looking for him in connection with a sexual assault which occurred on Thursday, May 26, at 1.15pm on King Street in Whalley.

“A man has been in the area collecting money for a charity and has assaulted a 47-year-old woman in the process, touching her inappropriately.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference EG1603106.