A PERVERT who put a 13-year-old Nelson girl through a terrifying ordeal probably lives locally police believe.

The girl who was dragged over the railway line from Manchester Road on to the Hard Platts field at 9pm on Wednesday has been able to give police a description of her attacker.

A man who was being questioned has now been eliminated from the inquiry.

Police have warned women to be aware when out walking at night.

Det Sgt Peter Simm said: "We don't want to unduly alarm people but this happened in the hours of darkness in a quiet place but just off a very busy main road. We want local people to be aware of the situation."

The girl was interviewed by a specially trained officer yesterday. She told them that she was taking her dog out for a walk when she notice a man come out of Summer Street and use the pelican crossing to cross Manchester Road. As he walked towards her she turned her back on him. He then grabbed her from behind, putting his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. His hand smelled strongly of cigarettes. He dragged her through the two gates of the railway path crossing and on to the field, where he forced her to the floor and assaulted her during a three-minute ordeal. During the incident he knelt down so that his trousers were likely to be wet and muddy. After threatening her and her family the man then off.

The girl described him as white and in his late teens or early twenties. He was wearing a dark baseball cap, dark bubble jacket and beige trousers. He spoke with a local accent.

Det Sgt Simm said: "Summer Street is a quiet side street not used as a thoroughfare. We believe that because of his knowledge this is probably a local man. Manchester Road is a busy main road and we appeal to anyone who may have been out walking their dogs or drivers such as taximen or pizza delivery people to think back to about 9pm on Wednesday as try to remember if they saw anything suspicious."

He said: "The girl returned home in a distressed condition and told her family who alerted us. She is coping extremely well in the circumstances and has the care and support of her family behind her."

Police were today continuing house-to-house inquiries. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.