THIS is the man police want to speak to after a woman claims she was raped - following an encounter with a man in a Bolton town centre pub.

The alleged 46-year-old victim told police she was raped in the early hours of Sunday morning.

It is claimed the incident happened between 1.30am and 6.30am.

Police say the woman had been drinking at The Swan pub in Churchgate and was seen up against the wall with a man near to the gates of the pub.

The man police want to speak to is white, in his mid 20s to mid 30s, with a heavy build.

He had short shaved brown hair, wore a blue short sleeved t-shirt, dark trousers, a dark tracksuit to that was tied around his waist, black trainers with a logo on the outside and carried a black rucksack with an embroidered U on the front.

Det Insp Damian Simpson said: “I would make a direct appeal to this man to come forward so we can eliminate him from our inquiries.

"I would also appeal to anyone else who saw the woman near to the gates of the pub to call us.”

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 8561812 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.