A 19-YEAR-OLD Blackpool woman was seriously sexually assaulted at knifepoint in a town centre alleyway.

The young woman was attacked near East Topping Street car park at around 2.45am on Friday, November 2, after a night out at a promenade nightclub.

The man assaulted her at knifepoint after she cut across the car park near Topping Street on her way home. He is believed to have escaped toward King Street.

Despite the vicious attack, during which she suffered severe bruising, the woman managed to stagger to a phone box and contact police.

Her attacker was white, in his 20s or 30s, approximately 5ft 8ins tall with short hair and wore dark clothing. Police said that he may have received cuts and bruises as there was a lot of broken glass and debris in the alley area.

They were appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the attacker or his victim on the route she took through the town centre on the night.

She left Heaven and Hell on the promenade and met two friends, a man and a woman, near to the Palace nightclub at 2.10am.

The three tried to phone a taxi and walked to Central Car Park near the junction with New Bonny Street. A white man aged late 20s to early 30s with heavy build and short dark hair came up to talk to them.

After a brief discussion he left, walking down Central Drive. The young woman then left her friends and walked along Bonny Street under the Yeadon Way bridge.

It is believed that the victim then walked toward McDonalds, up Albert Road and along Coronation Street, past the Winter Gardens on Church Street and by St John's Church toward Cedar Square.

She then walked along Wood St and across East Topping Street car park where the man attacked her in an alleyway at the end of the car park.

The distraught young woman then staggered to the King Street/ Cookson Street area near to the Hop Inn and managed to telephone police at 3.14am.

She had hospital treatment for severe bruising and was being supported by her family and dedicated family support police this week.

Detective Chief Inspector Cath Benn said: "This is a particularly violent and unprovoked attack by a stranger on an innocent young woman."

Police were appealing for the following to come forward

Witnesses who saw the young woman on her route through town. She was slim with blonde hair tied up in a ponytail and wore a denim jacket, a light coloured hooded top and a short, dark skirt.

The witness who spoke to the three friends in Central car park area

Anyone who was around East Topping Street car park between 2.30 and 3.15am

Any taxi drivers or operators who may have been contacted by the young woman or saw her on her route across town

Anyone who saw a male fitting the description and can link him to the woman or the scene.

Anyone with any information ca n phone Blackpool police on (01253) 293933 or phone Crimestoppers in confidence on (0800) 555 111.