About 1am, a 21-year-old woman was walking along White Street when she was approached by an unknown man.

Police have been told the man forced her into a laneway before sexually assaulting her and fleeing the scene.

A passerby came to the woman’s assistance and she attended Tamworth Police Station to report the incident.

The woman was taken to Tamworth Base Hospital for treatment.

Detectives from Oxley Local Area Command are appealing for public assistance in an attempt to identify and locate the man involved.

He’s described as being of Indian Sub-Continental appearance, aged in his late 20s, approximately 170cm tall, with short black hair and facial hair.

He was wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans.

Detectives would also like to speak with a man who assisted the woman after the incident.