POLICE are hunting a man who grabbed a teenage girl by the neck and tried to pull her into a side street as she was walking along a road in Bury.

The incident happened at around 8.45pm on October 28 as the 18-year-old girl was walking up Walmersley Road.

As she arrived at the junction with Birch Street, she was approached by a man who began to talk to her and asked her to walk with him down a side street.

When she refused, the man grabbed her by the neck and tried to pull her in the direction of the side street.

The 18-year-old managed to break free and ran up the main road, where the man continued to follow her until she went into a nearby house to call the police.

Police have now released an image of a man they wish to speak to in connection with this incident.

He is described as Asian, aged between 18 and 20 years old, and of skinny build. He was wearing thick rimmed glasses, a grey/black tracksuit and was carrying a yellow JD bag.

PC John Dineen, from GMP’s Bury North Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Clearly this incident has caused a great deal of distress to this young girl and we are trying to identify the man responsible.

“If anyone recognises the man in the image, or if you have any other information that you think may assist us with our enquiries, then please get in touch and tell us what you know.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Bury police station on 0161 856 8181 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.