AN emotional appeal by the mother of a teenage rape victim is helping detectives hunt down her attacker.

The 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was attacked in Washington Old Village, Tyne and Wear, on July 22 last year.

A man dragged her into bushes at the junction of the A1231 and Parkway roads, threatened her with a knife and raped her.

Despite an extensive police investigation with 500 house visits, 350 statements, and 275 people interviewed countrywide, the rapist remains at large.

Last week, the girl's mother made an appeal to the public for help in catching the man who ruined her daughter's life.

She told how the traumatised teenager was unable to go to college because she could not face travelling on public transport, and felt unsafe because her attacker was still at large.

Police said yesterday there had been a good response to the mother's plea and that they were pursuing new lines of inquiry.

Detective Sergeant Peter Hind said: "We have received several telephone calls and are following up numerous leads."

The rapist is described as aged about 40, 6ft, and of medium build. He wore a blue baseball cap, a green rainjacket, blue jeans and brown shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0191-454 7555, extension 66401.