A POLICE hunt for a masked man, reported to have sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Droitwich, has been dropped after officers discovered the circumstances were fabricated.

The attack was said to have taken place on a 14-year-old girl while she was walking near King George Playing Fields, on Friday, March 8, between 5.30 and 6pm.

The claims led to an extensive police search with townspeople being urged to be vigilant in case the attacker struck again.

However, this week police announced that the circumstances and the description of the attacker were fabricated.

At the time the attacker was described as being a white male, approximately 5ft10in/6ft tall and of average build, who wore dark clothes and had his head covered by what is believed to be a Balaclava.

West Mercia PC, Jim Bayliss, one of the investigating officers, said: "At the time this appeared to be an horrific assault on a teenage girl which required the fullest of investigations and understandably generated a great deal of fear in the local community.

"An extensive investigation has taken place and we have been able to eliminate the involvement of a masked man and are no longer looking for anyone else in connection with this reported incident," he said

PC Bayliss added: "Droitwich is a safe place to live, however, if anyone remains concerned about personal safety, copies of Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention are available free of charge from your local police station."

Copies of this leaflet are available from Droitwich Police Station, in Ombersley Street East.