A WOMAN in her 50s has spoken of the horrific ordeal of being sexually assaulted by 'a group of young children' days before the Appleby Horse Fair was due to begin.

Police are investigating the 'sexual assault by touching' incident, which occurred on Low Wiend, next to the Appleby Library, on June 5.

The woman, who lives in Eden, said the children who assaulted her looked around '10 years old'.

"Children were kicking and whipping doors of a nearby business, and after I told them to stop,  five of them just came and mauled me," she said.

"They kept putting their hands down my top and down my shorts - they just kept jumping on top of me and continued to put their hands down my top." 

The traumatic event left the victim feeling vulnerable and nervous to leave her home during the duration of the Appleby Fair. 

"What are these children going to grow up into?" she said.

Cumbria Police continue to investigate the distressing incident, with an appeal for help to identify those responsible or the perpetrators' parents. 

READ MORE: Appleby Horse Fair: Tradition that continues to divide

The victim has called for further policing in the days prior to the event beginning. 

A spokesperson from Cumbria Police said: "Cumbria Police received a report of a sexual assault which occurred in Low Wiend in Appleby in the vicinity of Appleby Library on Monday evening (June 5).

"The incident is believed to have occurred at around 6.40pm when a woman in her 50s was approached by a group of young children who assaulted the woman.

"The incident is being investigated as sexual assault by touching.

"Whilst those involved are very young, the incident would have been extremely concerning and upsetting for the woman involved."

They said the complaint is being taken seriously and an investigation undertaken to identify those responsible and their parents.

"Officers continue to call on anyone with information about this incident and/or who can help with efforts to identify those responsible are urged to contact police.

"You can report online at cumbria.police.uk/reportit quoting incident number 279 of June 5. You can also phone on 101.

"Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111," they said. 

The police have highlighted the ongoing efforts to enhance policing level during the Fair, which involves a substantial number of officers during all three phases of the event: Phase One (pre-Fair), Phase Two (during the Fair), and Phase Three (post-Fair).

However, the police acknowledged a need for continuous evaluation to ensure effective policing surrounding the event.