Police are hunting a man who sexually assaulted a teenage girl on a bus.

It happened on the number 507 bus as it pulled out of Bolton Bus Station, Moor Lane, between 10.40pm and 11.15pm on February 7.

The girl, 13, had been out with friends and then went to the station to catch a bus home.

She spoke to the supervisor who accompanied her onto the bus. A few minutes later the offender also got on and sat near the back of the bus next to the teenage girl.

He tried to strike up a conversation with her, before sexually assaulting her. The offender got off near the Bradshaw Conservative Club, and the girl got off the bus a few stops later.

Police are now appealing to anyone who either witnessed what happened or recognises the man in the CCTV stills police have issued to come forward.

The offender is described as Asian, between 5ft 5in and 5ft 6in tall and about 20-years-old. He had black combed hair, with black stubble, and was wearing a black waist length jacket, dark blue jeans and carrying a black laptop-style bag.

Detective Sergeant Lee Shaw said: "This young girl was simply trying to get home when she was sexually assaulted, and is understandably distressed.

"I want to reassure both her and the wider community that we are doing everything we can to find her attacker and ensure he cannot do this to anyone else.

"We have managed to obtain some good CCTV stills, so I want to appeal to anyone who recognises the man pictured to come forward. If you do know him, please do the right thing and call us.

"I also want to appeal to anyone who might have been on that bus, or at Bolton Police Station that night, who recognises this man or even saw a teenage girl getting on the 507 bus, to call us. Your information could be absolutely vital in finding this man and giving the young girl some peace of mind."

Anyone with information should call police in Bolton on 0161 856 5797 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault can contact Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 or 999 in an emergency. GMP has specially trained officers in place to provide a first class response to victims and help support them through the criminal justice process.

St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester, can also be contacted on 0161 276 6515. This provides a comprehensive and coordinated forensic, counselling and medical aftercare service to anyone in Greater Manchester who has experienced rape or sexual assault. Services are available on a 24-hour basis and people can access them either as a self-referral or via Greater Manchester Police.