Police have launched a hunt after a teenage girl was attacked on a Hampshire pathway.

Officers have launched an appeal for witnesses to track down the attacker who struck in the early hours of the morning.

The incident happened as the 17-year-old victim walked along a path in Romsey.

She suffered several injuries and was taken to Southampton General and last night was being interviewed by detectives.

Police taped off the unlit path linking Winchester Road and Selsdon Avenue.

Officers, helped by police dogs, searched hedgerows and bushes along Winchester Road and surrounding streets as well as conducting door-to-door enquiries.

Residents whose properties overlooked the overgrown shortcut slept through the incident and woke on New Year's Day to find the police had sealed off the path at the bottom of their gardens.

One resident, whose garden backs on to the 40ft path, said it was the third such attack in 20 years.

He added it was often used by people making their way back from town.

The path has now been reopened.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the attack, which happened between 1.30am and 3.30am on New Year's Day, to contact them on 101.