A SEX pest indecently assaulted a woman as she walked with a friend on the canal towpath in Burnley.

Two women in their 20s and 30s were walking along the Leeds to Liverpool Canal by Old Hall Street, Daneshouse, when they saw a man standing by the bridge.

The women thought he was urinating and walked past the pervert who then shouted "Oi look at this."

The women continued walking and the offender ran up behind them before exposing himself and propositioning them.

He then groped the breasts of the woman in her 30s before fleeing on a mountain bike towards Danehouse Road.

Police said the women were shaken by the incident, which happened at about 1.40pm on Thursday, and appealed for witnesses.

PC Gill Storey said: "At first the women did not think much of what was happening but they were shaken by the actions of the offender.

"Fortunately nobody was injured."

The offender is described as Asian, possibly Bangladeshi, about 5ft 3ins, aged 17 to 19, slim, clean shaven with short black or dark spiky hair.

He was wearing a yellow T-shirt with white writing or a logo on it and dark blue or black jeans. His bike was possibly red and black.

Anyone with information should contact police on 01282 425001.