AN EVIL sex fiend is still at large after raping an 18-year-old woman in Astley Park.

The teenager suffered her terrifying ordeal at about 10.50pm on Saturday as she walked towards Chorley to meet friends after finishing work.

Police say the attacker overtook the woman on a mountain bike before waiting in a wooden shelter.

When she walked past him, the man grabbed her and dragged her into the hut, threatened to kill her and carried out the assault.

The man fled the scene and the woman walked to the police station to report her ordeal.

house-to-house enquiries are under way and an incident room has been set up with more than 30 officers involved.

DI Phil Melling of Chorley Police said: "We would warn anyone going out to be even more wary after this violent and unprovoked incident.

"We want anyone with any snippet of information, who frequents the park or maybe recognises the person from the photofit, to call us. We need to catch this man as quickly as possible."

The attacker was described as white, aged between 18 and 20, with short, greasy blond hair, clean shaven, about 5'7" tall and of medium build.

He was wearing jeans, a denim jacket, light coloured trainers and a light coloured t-shirt with horizontal blue and red stripes. He smelled of alcohol and sweat and spoke with a local accent. Anyone with information should call 269021.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.