Teenage girl attacked on dirt track

Police say witnesses may have heard the girl scream

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to an attack on a teenage girl.

The 14-year-old was walking along a dirt track near to a gymnasium off Woods Road in Aspull in Wigan, Greater Manchester, at about 1900 GMT on Monday.

The attacker came up behind the teenager, pushed her to the ground and punched her in the stomach.

The girl screamed and managed to run off to the gym, where she raised the alarm.

'Heard screams'

Detective Sergeant Ian Melling from Wigan CID said: "The victim has been left very shaken by what happened.

"We believe there may have been a number of people either going to or leaving the gym who may have heard the teenager's scream, and possibly seen her attacker.

"I would appeal to anyone with information to come forward, and speak to police."

The man is white, aged about 40, about 5ft 6in, stocky build with a large, misshapen nose.

He was wearing a green three-quarter length waterproof jacket and tight-fitting running pants.