DETECTIVES hunting a sex attacker who pounced on a young woman in York say two witnesses could hold vital clues.

The victim, a local woman aged in her early 20s, was walking home alone after a night out with friends in the early hours when she was subjected to a serious sexual assault by a stranger.

Now police investigating the attack have issued a CCTV photo of two people who may have seen what happened.

A man has been arrested in connection with the incident which happened near to St Georges Field Car Park at just after 1.30am on Monday March 3.

Police want to speak to two men who were in the Coney Street area at around 1am before walking along Ouse Bridge and passing by Tesco Express.

After going down the side steps at The Slug and Lettuce on to Kings Staith, they then walked past The Lowther pub along the Ouse towards Blue Bridge passing St Georges Field Car Park.

Both men were white. One was around 6ft tall, wearing a dark hat with a lighter coloured bobble with writing on the front.

He was also dressed in a hooded military style jacket, worn with the hood down and fastened to the chin, and may have been wearing jeans.

The other man was slightly shorter with short dark hair. He was wearing a dark waist length jacket, lighter coloured shirt, possibly jeans and dark smart shoes.

A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with the assault remains on bail while police enquiries continue.

Det Ch Insp Allan Harder, of North Yorkshire Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “If either of the men pictured is you, I urge you to come forward and contact the police straight away as you may witnessed something which could help to progress this investigation further.

“I am also encouraging anyone who recognises the witnesses to either ask them to contact me or to get in touch with the police with their details.”

Anyone who can help to identify the witnesses should phone DCI Harder on 101 or email MajorCrimeUnit@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Quote reference 12140034199 when passing on information.