Police arrest suspect after school girl raped in Wigan

Police investigating the rape of a 13-year-old girl in Wigan have made an arrest. A 26-year-old man from Astley was arrested this morning,

Officers were called at around 9.15am yesterday following a report that a teenage girl had been raped in the Merlewood Drive area of Astley. A man approached the girl as she walked along the path, threatened her and dragged her into an area of nearby wasteland, where he raped her. The attack is believed to have taken place sometime between 7.30am and 8.30am.

The man is described as white, in his 30s, medium build and was wearing a blue vest and three-quarter length khaki shorts. Specialist support is being provided to the victim and a comprehensive police investigation has been launched. Detective Chief Inspector Howard Millington from GMP's Wigan division, said: