Police were today hunting a man who tried to rape an eight-year-old girl at a Colchester play area.

The "particularly nasty" attack happened in broad daylight yesterday.

The girl was at a play area at Salary Brook, a beauty spot next to the Greenstead estate.

Police today appealed for information about the attack, which happened between 3pm and 3.30pm off Scarfe Way near to a lake with swans and cygnets in it.

The area was sealed off following the incident and scenes of crime officers spent the evening searching the site.

Fifty officers are working on the investigation and today were still gathering evidence inside a tent inside the cordon.

At a news conference at Colchester police station this afternoon, Det Supt Win Bernard, who is leading the investigation, said said the girl had been playing on a greensward path but had been enticed away into longer grass by the man.

A police spokesman said the suspect was white, aged between 20 and 40, with short spiky light brown hair. He wore a blue T-shirt and blue trousers.

The man had a tattoo on each arm, one was a horned monster, and was behaving in a "noticeable manner" before the assault.

Detectives are appealing for anyone with information about the man or the assault to contact them at the incident room 01206 762122.

Published Monday August 19, 2002

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