POLICE are hunting a trick-or-treat sex attacker who molested a 13-year-old girl on a bridle path.

The "spotty faced" youth struck while the girl was trick-or-treating with two other female friends, aged 13 and four, in the Wood Nook area of Accrington.

He began chatting to the girls in Nuttall Street, close to the bridle path entrance.

After a considerable time one of the 13-year-old girls agreed to go up the bridle path with the youth where he indecently assaulted her before fleeing towards Victoria Street. The incident took place between 8.45pm and 9.45pm on Wednesday.

The youth is a white male, aged 15 to 20, 6ft tall and of medium build.

He had light brown hair and a spotty face, and was wearing a blue or dark coloured jacket with cream or white horizontal stripes, near the bottom, dark jeans and white Fila trainers.

Det Sgt Mark Rothwell, of Accrington CID said the girl, who was local to the area, had not been injured in the attack and had been interviewed by trained police officers.

He added: "We would like to speak to anyone who may have seen the three girls talking to a youth in the Nuttall Street area around the time of the incident to contact us.

"Similarly, if anyone recognises the description of the youth, we would urge them to get in touch."

Accrington South councillor Wendy Dwyer said the attack was "an awful thing to happen," and added: "I am not aware of anything like this happening up there before."

Anyone with information can contact Accrington CID on 01254 353741 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.