A TEENAGE girl was raped after being dragged into an alley in Farnworth last night.

The 16-year-old victim was walking along Fern Street at about 10pm when a stranger grabbed her.

As detectives continued to interview the girl today in an effort to learn the precise sequence of events, they moved to reassure the public they were doing everything possible to take the attacker off the streets.

Det Con Sarah Powell, of Bolton CID, said: “This is an awful attack on a young girl who was out alone.

“We have a team of highly trained and very experienced detectives working on this and we are doing all we can to identify him and get him off the streets.”

The girl had ealier walked past Darley Park and spotted a man on a bench. Police believe the same man might have followed her.

While on Fern Street, the girl was dragged into an alley between Brook Street with Lower Rawson Street and was raped.

She told detectives he was of stocky build, about 5ft 9in and was wearing a grey hooded top, black Nike tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.

Anyone with information can help can call Bolton CID on 0161 856 0961 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.