A TEENAGE girl suffered a 20-minute sex attack while walking home from Burnley town centre.

Detectives now want help to track down the sex fiend, who struck near an underpass linking Westway and Accrington Road.

The 18-year-old was about to use the underpass when she was confronted by an Asian man wearing bright red shoes.

Police said he tried to speak to her before he pushed her to the ground and carried out a prolonged sexual assault, lasting up to 20 minutes.

The traumatised victim eventually escaped and alerted Burnley police shortly after the incident, which occurred just after 8pm on New Year’s Eve.

Detectives hope passers-by will recall the struggle between the pair, on a grass verge near the subway, and come forward.

Detective Inspector Derry Crorken said: “Quite a few people will have been walking into the town centre, around this time of night, because buses would have stopped by then, or catching a taxi, who may have seen something important.”

The attacker was clean-shaven, around 5ft 9in, aged 18 or 19, with short dark hair.

He had a distinctive circular scar on the right-hand side of his chin.

He was slim and was said to have large eyes. He wore a thick gold necklace, black leather jacket, white T-shirt, light blue jeans and bright red shoes with black laces.

It is thought that he walked away towards Burnley town centre, along Westgate, after the attack.

Other sightings have been made of the man, from around 7pm in the same area, and police are also studying CCTV footage in a bid to obtain a better description of the man.

Call Burnley CID on 01282 472140 with any information or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.