An Essex Police investigation is under way after a teenage girl was raped near the Wivenhoe Trail last night (July 22).
The victim was walking alone at around 11.30pm, on the footpath that runs alongside the River Colne between Alresford and Wivenhoe, close to Colchester.
She left a party alone to walk back to Wivenhoe.
While on the footpath she was approached by a man who suddenly forced her into bushes and raped her, police said. Her assailant ran off when a number of young men heard the girl's screams for help.
The area remained cordoned off this morning (July 23) while forensic investigations were carried out.
The girl is currently at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre where she is being interviewed and is receiving support from specialist officers.
DI Terri Hooke who is leading the investigation said that the suspect was in his mid or early teens, had blond hair and was medium build.
She added: "We need to talk to the young men who ran to help the girl when she started screaming."
Anyone with information should contact DI Hooke or her team at Colchester Sexual Offences Investigation Team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111
