Police are hunting a man who indecently touched a middle-aged woman on a train from Kingston to central London.

British Transport Police called on commuters and witnesses to come forward after surveillance cameras showed a man inappropriately touching the 52-year-old Lambeth woman.

They have now released CCTV of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident, which took place at about 10.15am on Wednesday, 16 November.

PC Mark Payne, the investigating officer, said: “A man boarded the train at Kingston and took a seat next to the victim, a 52-year-old woman from Lambeth.

“He then covered her leg with a newspaper before touching her inappropriately.

“Understandably the victim, who left the train at Waterloo station, was left distressed by the incident.”

He said officers continued to investigate and were speaking to people in the area and circulating images on police intelligence systems.

PC Payne added: “Serious assaults such as this are rare on the rail network and this was clearly a very frightening and upsetting ordeal for the victim, who has been left badly shaken and traumatised by what took place.

“We are now asking for help from the public, and ask that anyone with any information about what happened contact police.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, quoting background reference B10/LSA of 9/01/2012 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.