A 36-YEAR-OLD woman was indecently assaulted as she walked home from a works party.

And the victim has relived the moment when the attacker struck, as she walked passed Sunnyhurst Woods, Darwen, on the way home from Blackburn in the early hours of yesterday.

Dawn, not her real name, said she had decided to walk home rather than drive after having a few drinks in Blackburn on Wednesday.

She left Blackburn at 11.45pm and reached Earnsdale Road at approximately 1.10am yesterday.

She was walking down Earnsdale Road when she saw a man standing by the footpath entrance to Sunnyhurst Woods, opposite the Salisbury Road junction.

He then crossed the road, put his hand on her right shoulder, turned her around and as he did so she noticed he was exposing himself.

The victim said she then punched him in the right cheek and ran off.

Dawn said: "I deal with drunken people all the time at work, I would definitely say he had had a drink.

"When he grabbed me I automatically swung round and hit him. I hit his right cheek.

"I ran down the street and was shouting I need the police' on my mobile phone.

"I just kept running, I didn't look back.

"I am shaken but you have to get on with things.

"I will be taking my car wherever I go even on a night out and not drink.

The man has been described as white, aged between 45 and 50, approximately 5ft 10ins and slim.

He is said to have a thin face with stubble and very short, dark brown hair and was wearing a grey, waist length, waterproof jacket and dark coloured jeans and he smelt strongly of alcohol.

Witnesses are asked to contact police on 0845 125 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.