Police are continuing to hunt an alleged rapist after a woman was attacked on a night out in Preston.

The victim, 18, became separated from her friends shortly before she was attacked on a grassy area close to the bus station in the early hours of Sunday September 22.

Detectives released CCTV images of a man they are treating as a suspect in a bid to find the attacker. Since then more women have told police they believe they were approached by the same man.

Further enquiries have led officers to believe the attacker boarded a train to Bolton at 8am and caught a number 37 bus from Bolton Bus Station.

Det Insp Fiona Jackson from Preston Police said: “We are determined to find this man and now know he travelled out of Preston hours after the attack, exiting the train at Bolton and then got on a bus but we don’t know when and where he got off.

“You will see that he was wearing some very distinctive trainers and clothing including jeans with a rip close to the knee area.

“If you think you saw him at the time, have seen him since or you know who he is, please contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information can call 01772 209702 or if you fail to get an answer, 101, ask for Lancashire Police and quote incident reference 323 of September 22nd.

Alternatively independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org