DETECTIVES are appealing for information after two separate sex attacks on a 15-year-old girl and a woman in a North Yorkshire city.

Police have said there is no link between the attacks which happened in Ripon.

Between 2am and 3am on Tuesday, a man grabbed a 15-year-old girl in North Street and dragged her along the road before sexually assaulting her.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the girl being dragged away or who has any other information to contact them.

A 37-year-old man was arrested in connection with the attack and has been released on police bail.

Just after 2.30am on Saturday, a woman in her late twenties was subjected to a serious sexual assault in Park Street, Ripon.

The frightened women was pushed to the ground by before being attacked by a man, who also stole a small amount of cash from her.

Her attacker was described as white, aged 25 to 30, 5ft 5ins tall and chubby. He was wearing a shirt, light-coloured trousers and a grey jacket.

Police are particularly keen to speak to a man and a woman who were seen having a heated argument at the junction of Park Road and Church Lane at about 2.30am that day.

A man was arrested and has been released on police bail in connection with Saturday's incident. Anyone with information on either attack should call police on 01423 505541.

Updated: 11:28 Friday, August 10, 2001