14-year-old girl beaten up by man

A 14-year-old girl has been punched to the ground by a man in west Belfast.

The teenager was on the Falls Road near the junction with Dunville Park between 1630 and 1745 GMT on Sunday when she was approached by a man.

He struck her several times, knocking her to the ground and then continued to assault her until a passer-by intervened.

The girl suffered minor injuries and was traumatised by the incident. The attacker ran off down Dunville Street.

He was described as being about 40, with grey stubble and was wearing a tan bomber jacket, tan baseball cap, grey tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe and trainers.

A motive for the attack is being investigated.

Police have said a number of people were in the area at the time and they want anyone with information to contact them.