A woman was set upon by a sex attacker in the centre of Brighouse.

She was accosted on the canal towpath, just yards from the busy Huddersfield Road.

Now detectives are studying CCTV footage from cameras in the area and are appealing for witnesses.

A part of the towpath remained sealed off for several hours after the attack.

The incident happened at 6.40am yesterday when the 22-year-old victim was approached by a man as she walking along a towpath beside the Calder and Hebble Navigation Canal.

The attacker is described as white, aged 40 to 50, around 6ft tall and of medium build with a receding hairline.

Uniformed officers could be seen guarding the police cordon along the towpath to the side of Prego Restaurant and towards the public car park.

The scene is in full view of the busy Huddersfield Road bridge and was spotted by shoppers, commuters and motorists.

Police cordoned off a section of the canal towpath in Brighouse
Police cordoned off a section of the canal towpath in Brighouse

Andrew Blakeley who runs nearby Blakeley’s Fish & Chips said: “We’ve had customers coming in and asking what’s gone on.

“All we know is a woman was attacked this morning on the towpath. Police have been and seen us and have taken our CCTV from outside as it runs along the canal and the car park.

“I’ve not seen what’s on the CCTV. It covers along the canal and the car park.

“We don’t normally get things like this. It’s normally drunks falling in the river or canal.”

Det Sgt Simon Archer from Calderdale CID said: “This incident took place in broad daylight close to the town centre of Brighouse where there will have been people going about their business.

“The suspect has run from the towpath, across the Bethel Street car park in the direction of the market. I would appeal to anyone who was in and around the area who may have seen or heard anything suspicious to come forward as they may hold vital information.”

Phone Calderdale CID via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.