A manhunt has been launched for a skinhead thug on a neon bike after a teenager was raped in Bothwell.
The horror attack happened between the hours of 5:45pm and 7:30pm on Wednesday.
The girl had separated from friends when confronted by the stranger and assaulted in the wooded area, near to Bothwell Castle.
The beauty spot is popular with walkers and cyclists and had seen an upsurge of visitors during lockdown.
An investigation is now under way as police search for a white suspect in his 20s, with a slim build and shaved head.
He was wearing a red t-shirt and blue shorts, and was riding a black mountain bike with green neon writing on the frame and tyres. It is also fitted with mud guards to the front and rear wheels.
Officers are still gathering CCTV footage for any further information on the incident or the suspect.
Detective Inspector David Lamont said: “I am appealing to members of the public who may have been in the area around the relevant time on Wednesday night to think back and consider if they saw this man.
"The bike was fairly distinctive in colour so you may remember seeing it.
"If you have any information regarding the incident, the suspect or the bike, please pass your information on.
"Any small detail could prove vital as we piece together the circumstances of what has happened.
He continued: “I’m aware that local people will be concerned by this incident and I would like to assure them that additional patrols are in the area to offer reassurance and anyone with concerns can approach these officers.”
As reported earlier by the Daily Record, walkers have told how they encountered officers guarding the area where the attack is believed to have taken place.
One said: "I was walking with my partner along the Clyde towards the castle from Bothwell when I encountered the police.
"There were four officers and the area around them had been sealed off with police tape.
"There were lights on the ground which indicated to me that a search had been taking place during the night.
"The police were walking around the woodlands and seemed to be searching for something."
Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at Blantyre Police Station via 101, quoting incident number 1806 of 21 May, 2020.
Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where you can provide information anonymously.
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