COMMUNITY leaders have urged anyone with information about a sex assault in Barrow to come and help police catch the man responsible.

Cumbria Police have now launched an investigation after a sexual assault took place in Barrow's town centre.

The incident is said to have occurred between 3.30am and 4am on July 24, on Cavendish Street and Dalkeith Street.

The incident is reported to have involved a woman and a man.

The man is described as being approximately 6ft tall and of stocky build with dark hair.

It is reported that the man had made non-consensual sexual contact with the victim.

The victim is now being supported by the Investigating Officers.

Barrow Borough Councillor Bill McEwan was sickened by the incident, encouraging members of the public to come forward so that police can "catch the perpetrator" and make the streets a safer place.

Councillor McEwan said: "These assaults are right out of order and we seem to be getting quite a few of them.

"It doesn't matter what time of night it is, or if it's the early hours of the morning it happens, it's just out of order and it should not be happening.

"This is a sign of the society that we are living in when you can be on your way home and attacked.

"It beggars belief. These people do it to get a kick out of it and they get a slap on the wrist.

"Totally ashamed that it has happened in the town.

"It is sick. It is so frightening.

"It's completely out of order and if anybody has any information come forward to the police as soon as you can because we have got to catch the perpetrator.

"We can't have them running around doing stuff like this, putting the whole town on alert and making people worried about going out.

"It's a sign of the times when you have to look over your shoulder every two minutes, it's atrocious."

Trevor Biggins, councillor for Barrow Central said: "I would like the public to help in these cases to help them get cleared up.

"We need the public to come forward, because if the public don't help then people can get away with it when they shouldn't.

"It's not nice."

Barrow and Furness MP Simon Fell described the incident as "awful" and asked that people come forward to help ensure that it "doesn't happen again".

He said: "This incident is awful and I would ask anyone that saw or heard anything around the Cavendish Street or Dalkeith Street areas in the early hours of Saturday to come forward so that police can do their work and make sure this doesn't happen again."

Anyone with information relating to this incident can report online at www.cumbria.police.uk/reportit , quoting incident number 120 of 24th July 2021.

You can also phone on 101. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.