Police are appealing for help in tracing a youth who punched a teenage girl in an unprovoked attack.

The 17-year-old, from Skipton, was walking towards a phone box in Ilkley with two friends when the assault took place.

A fight broke out in front of them and as the group tried to move out of the way, the suspect ran forward and punched the teenager in the face.

Today Inspector Mick Hopwood of Keighley Police warned: "We are not prepared to tolerate violence and rowdiness on the streets of Ilkley. People should be aware we take this matter very seriously indeed.

"Secondly, I want to stress how very seriously we take assaults upon women."

He added: "I would appeal for witnesses to come forward and help us find the man responsible."

Insp Hopwood, Keighley Division's community safety officer, is part of a team which has launched a crackdown on attacks on women, particularly domestic violence.

The man police want to question in connection with the assault in The Grove, at around 11.30pm last Friday, is described as white, in his early twenties, of average height, slim build, with short mousey hair, spiked on top.

He was wearing a purple shirt and beige trousers.

Anyone with information should contact Keighley Police on (01535) 604261 or Ilkley Police on (01943) 601060.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.