DETECTIVES investigating the rape of a young woman have released CCTV images of a man they believe is in Bolton and urgently want to trace as part of their enquiries.

An 18-year-old woman was attacked in the early hours on Sunday, September 22 in Preston after becoming separated from her friends.

Police say she had walked along Lancaster Road from Church Street in the city centre.

And when she reached the junction with Harris Street at the side of Sessions House, she met a man. After a brief interaction, they have walked onto Lord Street, where it is believed that the woman was raped on a grassed area.

The Bolton News:

The man has then walked off but returned to the area a few minutes later and tried to talk to the victim. He then went back on to Lancaster Road.

Following enquiries, officers believe he may have approached other women in the city centre during the evening and early hours.

Now new images have been released of a man officers wanted to speak to.

The Bolton News:

The CCTV pictures show the man travelling on the 8am Northern train from Preston to Manchester. He got off at Bolton at around 8:54am and then left the train station, heading to the bus station.

The man has then boarded the number 37 Manchester bus at bus stop X, however it is not known which stop he got off at.

DI Fiona Jackson from Preston Police said: “We are determined to find this man and now know he travelled out of Preston hours after the attack, exiting the train at Bolton and then got on a bus but we don’t know when and where he got off.

“You will see that he was wearing some very distinctive trainers and clothing including jeans with a rip close to the knee area.

“If you think you saw him at the time, have seen him since or you know who he is, please contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information can call 01772 209702 or if you fail to get an answer, 101, ask for Lancashire Police and quote incident reference 323 of September 22nd.

Alternatively independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org