THE hunt for a sex attacker who preyed on a young girl in Leverhulme Park is still on after a man was arrested but later released without charge.

Police are now appealing for fresh information about the attack on the 14-year-old girl, who was sexually assaulted as she walked through the park on January 21.

One man was arrested last week after a member of the public called police to say they recognised someone from the e-fit following an appeal in The Bolton News — but he was later released when the victim was unable to pick out the man in an identity parade.

The incident happened at about 8pm on a grassed area off Long Lane, in Leverhulme Park, after the schoolgirl had been to a gym.

She said she noticed a man walking behind her and started to walk faster to get away from him, but he too sped up, to the point where he ran past her and then grabbed her before sexually assaulting her.

The young girl screamed and kicked out at her attacker, causing him to lose his grip, and she then managed to run off and tell her dad what had happened.

Det Insp Charlotte Cadden said: "Following the appeal which featured in The Bolton News a member of the public came forward and gave us the details of someone.

"We arrested that person last week and they denied it.

"He was put through our identification system but was not picked by the victim, so we are still looking for the person responsible for this horrific attack."

The attacker is said to be a slim white man, between 20 and 25 years old.

He spoke with a Bolton accent and was wearing a black waterproof, waist-length coat zipped up to the chest and grey tracksuit bottoms.

He may also have been wearing gloves.

Det Insp Cadden added: "We still need to find the perpetrator so we are doing a fresh appeal to keep this incident in the public's minds in the hope someone will come forward with fresh information.

"This was a terrifying attack for the teenager involved. We really need to find out who did this to prevent further assaults like this."