DETECTIVES determined to trap the brutal Billinge Wood rapist have carried out an unprecedented DNA testing operation at the scene.

Officers swooped on Blackburn's Witton Park, Billinge Woods and Killiards Lane yesterday, almost six months to the day since the attack in the hope that the sex-beast may have returned or that the public might reveal vital new information.

Part of the "high profile" operation involved 25 officers taking mouth swabs from men that fitted the rapist's general description.

A mobile police station was set up in Witton Park and house-to-house inquiries into the attack, which took place last October, were repeated and intensified. Detective Sergeant Joe Kellett, who was manning the station, said: "We felt the time was right to do this.

"It is almost six months to the day since the attack and we wanted to remind the public that this man is still out there and that he could strike again at any time. "

Today, Acting Detective Chief Inspector Neil Smith said 28 swabs were taken and would now be tested to see if any fitted the sample taken from the 22-year-old victim.

He said the swabs were taken solely with the consent of the subject and that most people were happy to help efforts to clear up the crime.

And he added that yesterday's interviews had thrown up several new lines of inquiry which would now be investigated.

A total of 550 men have already been tested during the course of the inquiry.

The mouth swabs are sent to the police forensic science laboratory in Birmingham. It could take up to four weeks before the full results are known.

Mr Smith added: "It was a high profile policing exercise concentrating inquiries around the scene.

"We spoke to people that may have had information in connection with the offence approximately six months ago."

Mr Smith said he was still confident that the rapist lived locally.

He added: "The operation was launched in the hope that he may have spoken about the offence to a friend or relative."

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