A man attempted to unzip an 18-year-old woman's coat during a possible sex attack in Edinburgh.

The woman was accosted at 8.30pm on Thursday as she walked alone on a footpath between Guardwell Glen and Gilmerton Dykes Crescent.

Her attacker pushed her and tried to unzip her coat but was interrupted by another man walking by with a dog.

The attacker, who was a white man aged between 30 and 40, then left the area.

Police say they are investigating the incident and attempting to establish whether or not it was sexually motivated.

Detective inspector Lyle Shaw said: "We are eager to establish the full circumstances of this incident and are keen to speak to male witness who disturbed the attack.

"I would ask the witness, or anyone who recognises his description, to make contact with us as soon possible.

"Likewise I would also ask anyone with any other information regarding this incident to get in touch with us at their earliest convenience."