Police have issued a warning to women after a teenage girl was dragged into a car and subjected to a horrific sexual assault at a popular nature spot.

The 16-year-old was walking home from her boyfriend’s house when a gang of men snatched her and drove to Burrs Country Park.

The three men inflicted a serious sexual assault on the terrified girl inside the car before attacking her again when she tried to run off.

Police are warning girls and women to walk in groups, while reassuring people that such attacks are “extremely rare”.

Full details of the shocking assault — which happened on Saturday, May 15 — were only released on Tuesday.

The victim had walked past B&Q at Heap Bridge around 11.10pm, under the M66 bridge and onto Rochdale Road before heading towards Asda in Spring Street.

As she approached the junction with Mason Street, a silver four-door car pulled up alongside her and the man in the front passenger seat got out.

The man, who the others referred to as “Ali”, dragged the girl into the car which drove off onto Angouleme Way.

At the park, the victim was sexually assaulted in the front passenger seat by the man called “Ali”.

She managed to escape but the driver of the car chased after her and sexually assaulted her again in a wooded area.

The girl put up a fight and the attacker ran back to the car and sped off.

The distressed victim walked into the Garsdale pub in Woodhill Road, Bury, at about 1.20am and police were later called.

She was then taken to St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester where she was given counselling and medical care.

The wanted men are all described as Asian. The car driver was skinny, aged about 21, and 5ft 7ins tall. He had short black hair, with an egg-shaped head, a fine jaw line, and had a beard like a pencil line from ear to ear. He was dressed entirely in black.

The man known as “Ali” was aged about 18, skinny to medium build, about 5ft 9ins tall, and had a similar jaw line beard. He was wearing dark blue jeans, with gold diamantes on the back pockets and possibly a blue top.

The third man was also skinny, wore glasses, and had no facial hair. He was referred to by the other men as “Otis”.

Det Con Phil Slater, from Bury’s Public Protection Investigation Unit, said: “This teenager was left very frightened by her experience that night and it is essential we track down the men from the car.

“We have been working hard to find them but would be interested in speaking to anyone who saw the girl as she walked around the area that night or spotted the car.

“Incidents like this are extremely rare and we do not want anyone to be frightened but we’d like to remind everybody of some simple measures to help protect themselves when out at night: “Where possible, go out in a group and book a taxi or arrange your travel in advance. If you must walk alone, keep to busy well lit areas and let someone know what you intend to do.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 8066, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.