The 17-year-old was grabbed from behind while walking through a quiet field but managed to struggle free and run home, as revealed on our website yesterday.

The girl, who suffered scratches in the incident, had been walking along Eden Lane, in Peterlee, when a silver-grey Mondeo-style car drove past.

The driver whistled at her, stopped the vehicle and his passenger got out and asked her if she wanted a date.

She refused, continued walking and turned into an area known locally as the Pony Field, a well-known and well-used shortcut between Peterlee and Horden.

Detective Sergeant Graham Chisholm said: "She was about 100 yards into the field when she was suddenly grabbed from behind. Her attacker was the passenger from the car.

"There was a short struggle during which she received scratches to her body but she managed to break free and ran off home to raise the alarm."

Her attacker is described as in his early 20s with a shaved head. The car driver is said to be in his late 20s, of stocky build and also with a shaved head. Both spoke with a local accent.

Police are anxious to speak to anyone who was in the area on Wednesday night between 8.15pm and 9pm who may have seen the vehicle, which had a number of dents along the driver's side, or witnessed the assault.

Anyone with information is asked to ring Peterlee Police on 0345 6060 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police in neighbouring Hartlepool have renewed their appeal for witnesses after a woman was attacked after being approached by two men in a car.

The woman told police that at around 10.15pm on Saturday, August 23, she was approached by two men in a silver car and had to fight one of them off before fleeing.

The incident happened in Seaton Lane, Hartlepool, just before the railway bridge, near to Eden Park vehicle hire unit, but police do not have any description of the men in the car.