A 14-YEAR-OLD girl was followed after leaving a gym before being sexually assaulted in Breightmet.

She screamed and kicked out at her attacker before managing to flee the scene.

The January 21 incident took place on a grassed area off Long Lane, Leverhulme Park, at about 8pm.

The schoolgirl had left a local gym and was walking along a footpath in the park when she noticed a man walking behind her.

She 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.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the victim ran off and told her dad what had happened.

Police said they would be stepping up patrols after the girl's ordeal, which they described as "terrible".

Cllr Lynda Byrne, for Breightmet, urged youngsters using Leverhulme Park to take precautions while police work to catch the suspect.

The offender is described as a white man, of a slim build and 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 Charlotte Cadden said: "While I understand this incident will cause alarm among parents in the community, I want to reassure those people this is an isolated incident and we are not dealing with any sort of spate of this type of crime.

"We do not want people to be unduly fearful, but it is right we should warn our community what has happened so that people, particularly young girls, can take precautions and be on their guard.

"There will be extra patrols in place over the coming days, both to reassure any worried residents but also to gather any information about this incident so that we can trace the man responsible.

"This young girl suffered a terrible ordeal so we need to find him. I would therefore urge anyone who knows who is responsible, or perhaps witnessed what happened, to come forward and speak to us."

Cllr Byrne said: "It is just terrible and thankfully does not happen that often in Breightmet or Bolton for that matter.

"It is awful and brings to mind just how cruel people can be.

"Youngsters who are going out at night in areas which are quite large with not many people about are better off going in groups rather than on their own.

"For the children attending the facilities at Leverhulme Park, and their parents, this message is important.

"I am shocked to hear this and just hope that the girl is ok and that her family are able to overcome what has happened."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.