A WOMAN was raped as she walked home along a canal footpath late at night.

The 23-year-old woman, from Burnley, was approached by a man as she walked along the canal band off Colne Road between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Tuesday.

The man engaged her in a brief conversation and forced her to some rough grass land where he raped her.

Detective Superintendent Neil Esseen said: “This is a cowardly attack on a vulnerable female member of our community and I would appeal for anyone with information to come forward and contact us,” he said.

“Despite the heavy rain on that night, the canal tow path is often used by boat owners, dog walkers and joggers so it is possible that someone may have seen the victim, either before or after the attack, and we would urge them to get in touch with us.

“It is also possible that the male was loitering in the area immediately prior to the incident and someone may have seen him.”

Neighbours said the canal towpath area, which links Colne Road with Daneshouse, is popular with dog walkers, cyclists and walkers but occasionally attracts problems with street drinkers and fly tippers.

Brendan Walker, of Bank Hall Terrace, said: “There was a man who followed my 18-year-old daughter home along the towpath a few months ago and we had to call the police.

“This could be a nice little enclave but you get problems from time to time, particularly with people dumping rubbish. We didn't see anything at all on the night.”

Neighbour Ushid Anwar said: “This is a very quiet area and I didn't even know that anything had happened. It is a bit of a surprise.”

Dog walker Terry Nolland, 58, said: “I walk up and down here every day with my dog but I'd think twice about doing it on my own, especially at night when there might not be many people around. It's quite shocking to think this could happen right near a main road.”

Mr Esseen said extra police patrols would be in the area.

“We are confident that with the communities assistance we will quickly arrest this man but in the meantime would ask people to be extra vigilant whilst going about their day to day life.

The attacker is described as Asian, 5ft 8ins tall with a round face and cleanly shaven. He was wearing a dark jacket, dark jeans and a grey woolly hat.