DETECTIVES are hunting two men following a terrifying sexual assault on a young woman on an isolated cycle path in York.

The two offenders were disturbed by members of the public who spotted them on the path.

The alleged assault on the local woman in her 20s happened on the corner of Wigginton Road and Crichton Avenue, in Clifton, at about 3.30am yesterday. It is not yet known whether the woman was raped.

Sergeant Jeremy Wilkinson, of York Police, said the victim was left "very distressed" by her ordeal.

"We've received an allegation of a sexual assault at that location," he said.

"We've spoken to the victim and examined the scene and investigations are continuing."

Yesterday morning, forensic investigators were on the scene and a white tent had been put up over the area to protect evidence.

Traffic filed past the busy junction during rush-hour as officers stood by a sealed-off area of pathways and waste ground around the Wigginton Road bridge, between York Hospital and the Nestl Rowntree factory.

A nearby resident said she had heard a raised voices from the cycleway in the early hours of the morning.

She said: "I heard some shouting coming through from that direction. I could not say what time it was but it was in the early hours.

"We often hear noise from the road. But I heard this morning it had been a sexual assault."

A worker in a shop nearby said: "I just saw a white tent going on the path and loads of police when I was on my way to work. People are saying a woman was assaulted."

Detective Inspector Steve Maud, who is leading the police inquiry, said: "I would ask if anybody was in the area last night that they come forward to the police and give their details so that they can be spoken to at a later date as our investigation continues."

North Yorkshire Police are urging the people who helped the victim or any other witnesses to contact York CID on 0845 6060247.