POLICE yesterday issued a desperate appeal for help in their efforts to track down a sex beast who attacked a six-year-old girl.

The girl was in the play area of the Scalby Manor caravan park, near Scarborough, when a man enticed her into a wood and indecently assaulted her.

He was last seen running towards the caravan park just after the attack, at about 9.30pm, on Sunday.

Police have been at the scene almost constantly since the attack, tackling the mammoth job of interviewing hundreds of possible witnesses.

Detective Inspector David Hunt, said yesterday: "We strongly need the public's help in catching this man.

"About 1,000 people were at the site on Sunday and that is a huge number of potential witnesses. I need to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious, or is able to identify the man responsible for this shocking assault."

Detectives were yesterday able to release a description of the attacker, who was aged between 20 and 30, clean shaven with short ginger or strawberry-blond hair. At the time of the attack he was wearing a blue fleece and blue jogging bottoms.

Police are anxious to speak to an elderly couple who were walking their dog and saw the man running away.

Anyone who can help is asked to call (01723) 500300.