Detectives hunting a sex attacker who put a teenage girl through an hour-long ordeal today said they have had "a good response" to their appeal.

Detective Superintendent Tim Forber, who is leading the manhunt, said "a number of very interesting calls" had opened up lines of inquiry and were being investigated.

The massive police operation to find the attacker began after his 15-year-old victim raised the alarm.

The girl had been walking in Hall Lane, Windhill, on the way to a friend's house shortly after midnight on Tuesday when she was grabbed from behind and dragged into a churchyard.

She was subjected to a terrifying sexual assault outside Christ Church in Church Street before being frogmarched by the man three quarters of a mile along Thackley Old Road towards a playground.

She was then led down a footpath towards the canal where he sexually assaulted her again before throwing her in and fleeing.

The teenager managed to climb out of the canal to get help.

She is now recovering at home with her family and being supported by specially-trained police officers.

An underwater search team has been hunting for clues in the canal and officers have been carrying out extensive house-to-house inquiries in the area as well as checking CCTV.

In an update on the investigation, Det Supt Forber said: "We've had a good response to the appeal so far and we continue to urge anyone who was in the area or who has any information to get in touch with us immediately."

The attacker is described as 30, white, with short, dark brown hair, 6ft, stocky, with a fat face and a deep Scottish accent.

At the time of the attack he was wearing a cream checked shirt, black jeans and trainers.

The chairman of Windhill Ward Tasking Group, which works with police to improve community safety, has backed police and community leaders by making a personal plea for people with information to come forward.

Andy Rowley said: "It is vitally important that we bring this animal to task as soon as possible. Someone must know this man and have something police will find useful."

e-mail: kathie.griffiths@bradford.newsquest.co.uk