POLICE are investigating an alleged sex attack on a Southend footpath.

Officers were called after reports that a woman had been sexually assaulted on a footpath, off Queensway, behind the Odeon cinema, in the early hours of yesterday, after a night out in the town.

The route was closed while police officers carried out investigations.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police are investigating reports of a sexual assault on a woman in Southend in the early hours of Sunday. “The woman, who is from the Southend area, returned home in a distressed state and said she had been assaulted on a footpath, off Queen- sway and behind the Odeon cinema, after leaving a nightclub.

“Investigations are continuing and the woman is being assisted by specially-trained officers.”

Witnesses to the incident should contact Rayleigh sexual offences investigation team on 101.