A shocking attack on a 14-year-old Westbury girl as she walked home from school left her with a bruised face and turned her into a nervous wreck, according to her mother.

The assault took place as the girl walked through the alleyway that leads from Frogmore Road to Gloucester Walk in Westbury, when she made her way home from Matravers School at around 3.15pm on November 21.

Her mum, who asked to remain anonymous, said her daughter was tapped on the shoulder, before being struck in the face. She fell to the ground but was able to get up and run off.

The man is described as about 6ft and dressed in black.The girl’s mum thinks he was wearing a Morphsuit – a skintight costume that covers the entire body.

Her mum said: “She left school at 3pm and was walking down the alleyway on her own when she was tapped on the shoulder and punched in the face. She said he was all in black, but we think he may have been wearing a Morphsuit, as it was superhero dress up day for Children in Need.

“She came through the front door at 3.30pm and went up to her bedroom, which was not out of the ordinary, but after an hour I thought something must be wrong. When I went upstairs she was hysterical.

“We thought she had a fractured cheekbone as she had bruising up around her eye and eyebrow, but Salisbury A&E established there were no fractures.

“She had to have the next week off school as she was a nervous wreck and she wouldn’t leave the house. It was a cowardly act by someone who hid their identity. What sort of man punches a girl in the face?”

PC Cerys Powell said: “It is quite a strange incident as it happened in daylight in an alleyway where many schoolchildren walk home. I would encourage anyone who saw anything to get in touch.”

Anyone who was in the area at the time or who has any information should contact PC Powell at Trowbridge Police Station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.