Girl assaulted in Launceston public toilet

A 13-year-old girl has been assaulted in a public toilet in Launceston, with police searching the Cataract Gorge area for her attacker.

The young teenager, who was assaulted about midday on Thursday, has described her attacker as about 50-years-old, of Asian appearance and wearing round-rimmed sunglasses.

"He entered the female toilets on the West Launceston side of the Gorge and prevented the girl from leaving before pushing her into a wall and striking her. She escaped and called for help," police said as they launched an appeal for public information.