Gardaí in the city are hunting for a man involved in an alleged attack on a woman in the early hours of this morning.

The woman was walking from her home in Forster Court in the city to the train station, where she worked at around 4.30am.

She was grabbed from behind, a short distance from her home, by a man who dragged her to a green area in the estate.

A struggle ensued and the woman managed to pull off the culprits balaclava after which he ran off in the direction of City Hall and College road.

Gardaí believe he may have suffered a bite mark to his hand from the struggle.

The culprit is described as being 5 feet 5 inches in height, wearing a black jacket and black trousers.