A TEENAGE nightclubber who sparked a hunt for a vicious rapist has admitted that the attacked never happened.

The 18-year-old prompted a large-scale police operation after claiming she was dragged to the ground as she walked home from a night out in Blackburn early on Saturday January 10.

She has now been cautioned for wasting police time.

Dozens of officers were called in to help the search and hundreds of hours of police time were devoted to the case after the woman claimed she was attacked on wasteland near Bolton Road.

Police said they were looking for a 'sexual predator' after the woman said she was chased and attacked again as she tried to escape from the rapist. Today Detective Inspector Simon Giles today said: "We want the public to be reassured there is not a stranger rapist about.

"We carried out a painstaking investigation with CID officers from across the division and had positive feedback from the media.

"However as a result of inquiries the female has now admitted that the attack did not occur.

"As such, police are now no longer looking for any person in relation to this matter.

"The female making the allegation has now been interviewed and has received an adult caution for wasting police time.

"During the course of our inquiries we have provided her with full support and we are still offering her support."

Police investigating claims made by the 18-year-old were out in force the weekend after the alleged attack patrolling the area and handing out leaflets to passing motorists who they thought may have seen something.

She claimed to have been attacked at the rear of William Wilson Electrical Supplies after leaving Utopia nightclub in Lord Square around 1.45am.

Officers also reviewed hours of CCTV footage in the hope of a breakthrough in the case.

Today Detective Chief Inspector Neil Smith stressed that he did not want this occurrence to deter genuine indecent assault victims from contacting police.

He said: "I must emphasise that we treat all complaints of sexual assault and rape very seriously and would reassure all victims to contact us at the earliest opportunity.

"The fact we put a week's worth of effort into this case shouldn't deter people from coming forward.

"We don't want them to think the police are not going to believe them as we take all reports of this nature very seriously.

"Complaints of indecency are one of our priority crimes and we treat them as such with considerable resources put into investigations."

The Rape Crisis Federation for England and Wales reports that two per cent of rape allegations are made up -- the same proportion as other crimes.