A man has been arrested after a teenage girl was sexually assaulted in Croydon.

Police were alerted to an incident on Purley Way after receiving a report of a sexual assault at 9.17am.

Two teenage girls were walking along the road when the attack took place.

A man allegedly approached one of the girls from behind, pulling her to the ground and assaulting her.

Later that same evening, officers arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault.

The suspect was taken to a police station in South London, where he is currently being held.

The investigation is ongoing.

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said: “Police were called at around 09:17hrs on Monday, 2 September where a third party report was made of an allegation of sexual assault at Purley Way.

“The victims, two teenaged girls, were walking on Purley Way when a man grabbed one of them from behind and pulled her to the floor assaulting her.

“That same evening, officers from the Met’s South Area Command arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault.

“He was taken to a south London police station where he remains at this time.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”