Police look for woman feared hurt in serious assault

Police want to find a woman thought to have been the victim of a serious assault in Southend

Police are trying to locate a woman thought to have been the victim of a "serious" assault.

Officers were called to reports of a woman being hurt in Old Southend Road, Southend, in Essex, at about 23:00 GMT. They believed the victim, who was described as about 5ft 9in and blonde, had suffered head injuries.

Ch Insp Paul Hogben added: "Our utmost concern right now is to make sure the woman assaulted receives any medical attention she needs – we are asking for the public's help to locate her as soon as possible."

The force said a 52-year-old man, from Southend, had been arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and common assault.

Essex Police said the victim had her hair in a bun and was wearing a knee-length light-coloured jacket, cropped light-coloured trousers, and carrying a cream or light coloured bag, at the time of the incident.

It added that officers arrived at the scene within five minutes of a 999 call being made.