Police have issued a warning over bogus taxis after a driver tried to rape a teenage girl he picked up in Manchester city centre.

The 18-year-old had a row with her friends after a night out at Pure in the Printworks and got into the car, believing it was a cab.

The man drove the girl around, before trying to rape her in what police say was "a terrifying ordeal".

Police want to trace a second driver who tried to help the girl.

The girl was on Miller Street early on 16 March when a white saloon car pulled alongside her and she got in.

After driving off, the teenager realised it was not a taxi and tried to get out but the door was locked.

The driver stopped on Woodlands Street and tried to rape her.

After a struggle, the victim managed to run away.

While she was running, a man in another car pulled up and asked if she was all right, but the victim ignored him and carried on running. Police want to trace the driver.

The attacker was Asian, in his mid 20s, slim with a slim face, and wearing light-coloured trousers and a dark top.

He spoke good English with an Asian accent.

Det Con Jill Jones, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "The offender subjected his victim, a teenage girl, to a terrifying ordeal.

"Without wishing to cause any alarm in the community, this is clearly a man who does not care about the damage he caused to this young girl, both physically and emotionally."

"I also want to warn people going for a night out to take extra care when travelling home and to encourage them to either pre-book a licensed hire taxi, use a Hackney cab or arrange for someone to collect them."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7314575.stm