A SCHOOLGIRL was grabbed by a man when she separated from her friends in West End.

The 12-year-old was near The Gregg School in Cutbush Lane when the man described as "fat" approached her and grabbed hold of her.

She managed to break free and run away back to her two friends who she had been out with before returning home. The girl, from Bitterne Park, was uninjured but shaken and upset after the incident at 6.45pm on Saturday.

Police are treating the incident as an assault and are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed it.

Very upset Detective Sergeant Ben Chivers, from Eastleigh CID, told the Daily Echo: "There were no words spoken, just the grabbing.

"The context of this is not known yet.

"The girl was very upset and went home crying.

"She is with her family and has been helping us with interviews."

The man is described as white, aged 30 to 40, 5ft 7in, of fat build with a shaved head with a receding hairline and bushy eyebrows. He was wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone with information should call Eastleigh CID on 0845 045 4545.