DETECTIVES hunting a paedophile who snatched a six-year-old girl from her bath received more than 30 calls after a television appeal, police said last night.

The young victim was left naked and shivering in an alley near her North Tyneside home after she was repeatedly sexually abused in the man's car.

Her mother had taught her to remember landmarks if she ever got lost, and the girl has told police about the circular 15-minute route she was taken on before she was abandoned on the evening of December 27.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Napier, who is investigating the abduction, appeared on BBC1's Crimewatch programme to appeal for information.

He told viewers that the fact the girl was taken from her home when her mother had momentarily left her alone indicated the paedophile may have been spying on his victim.

He said the attacker was white and was dressed almost entirely in black.

His team of officers want to trace a red or burgundy Volkswagen, possibly a VW Golf with an M or N registration, which was seen driving slowing around the Willington Quay area, including the back lanes, two or three hours before the girl was abducted.

A red car, possibly an old-style BMW 3-series, was seen being driven at speed from Bewicke Road then west along Hadrian Road at about 7.15pm on the night of the abduction.

A black Ford Focus was seen around Station Road and Bewicke Road at about 6.30pm. The car was being driven at speed and making excessive noise, as if it had a fault.

Det Chief Insp Napier said that more than 30 viewers had rung the studio and others had contacted the incident room in North Shields with information about the three cars.

He said: "We have some good local information to follow up and a couple of calls in particular have provided strong lines of inquiry. These are all being actively pursued."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 0191-214 6555, ext 63806.