A SCHOOLGIRL was assaulted in a Colchester underpass.

The 17-year-old girl was walking through the underpass which links both parts of Crouch Street shortly before 3.30pm on Friday, May 16.

She walked past a group of men, one of whom slapped her bottom.

The girl was uninjured, but was left distressed and shocked by the assault.

Details of the incident and a CCTV image were released yetserday and within hours a 16-year-old was identified as a suspect..

He will be interviewed by officers.