A BRAVE Hampshire teenager who was the victim of a serious sexual assault as she walked to school has helped police piece together a more detailed description of her brutal attacker.

Detectives say the 15-year-old has been able to provide them with more crucial information about the man who jumped on her from behind and dragged her into bushes.

He is white, 15 to 20 years old with a slight build. He was clean-shaven with an elongated face and had dark eyes and a long, thin nose.

He was wearing a dark green anorak - with a motif on the chest - over what is believed to be a black hooded top and black trousers.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, the assault happened between 8am and 8.30am on Tuesday on the half-mile-long footpath running between Falkland Road and Kingfisher Road in Eastleigh.

The 15-year-old was brutally assaulted shortly after walking out of the M3 underpass as she headed for Kingfisher Road. After her attacker fled she ran home to raise the alarm. Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Farrell, who is leading the manhunt, said: "Although clearly traumatised by her terrifying ordeal, the girl and her family are receiving a network of support from police and other agencies and it is hoped that she will be able to provide us with an e-fit of her assailant."

She added that the major incident team was working hard to gather evidence that would provide them with the vital breakthrough in identifying the attacker.

She renewed her appeal for anyone who used the footpath on Tuesday to contact police immediately.

Det Chief Insp Farrell said: "It is thought the offender left the scene in a hurry and because of this would have drawn attention to himself. He may have appeared flustered or been perspiring and may have been wearing muddy clothing."

Specialist teams were at the scene carrying out fingertip searches for critical clues all day yesterday as the footpath remained closed to the public.

Officers also carried out house- to-house inquiries at both ends of the footpath and are looking at closed-circuit television footage seized from cameras in the vicinity.