13 August 2012 Last updated at 04:05 ET

Studland beach sex attack on girl, 10

The girl and her brother had been playing in sand dunes at Studland

A 10-year-old girl has been sexually assaulted while playing near a Dorset beach.

Police said the girl was approached by a man while she and her brother, eight, were playing in sand dunes at Shell Bay, Studland, early on Friday evening.

The attacker is believed to be aged between 50 and 70.

He is described as having brown hair and a cleft lip, was wearing a green jacket and sunglasses and carrying a backpack.

The girl's family had been on holiday and had parked near the chain ferry. The children had been playing on the beach before heading into the dune.

Det Sgt Neil Wright said: "This is a very unusual incident in a particularly safe area of the country."