A MANHUNT is underway after a 15-year-old girl was raped at knifepoint in Tyneside.

The teen is receiving support from specialist officers after the attack at around 10.40pm on Tuesday while she was walking in Newcastle’s Elswick Road.

She was approached by a man  in his late teens, described as around 5ft 8" tall, dark skin, slim build wearing a black leather jacket and a black fleece hat.

He threatened her with a knife before taking  her to the grassed area between Park Close and Gloucester Terrace.

Officers had initially been called to a robbery but on speaking to the girl learnt that her attacker had raped her.

Northumbria Police has  launched an investigation and detectives are mounting extra patrols and carrying out enquiries in the area.

Newcastle Chief Inspector Steve Hails said: "We need to speak to anyone who was in Elswick Road last night around the time the offence happened and who may have seen or heard anything. I'd urge anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously or any suspicious behaviour to contact us as soon as possible with any information at all.

"We have extra officers in Elswick Road today and they are speaking to local residents to see if anyone saw or heard anything.

“There will be more patrols in the area and a visible policing presence to reassure the community and give people the opportunity to speak to the police.

"We are checking CCTV opportunities in Elswick Road and would ask that anyone who has private CCTV cameras on their homes to check them for anything that could help us with the enquiry.

"We recognise this incident will cause concerns for the community and the public can be assured we are doing everything possible to establish what has happened and find the man responsible.

"Incidents of this nature are very unusual and extremely traumatic for the victim.

“We are working with the victim and her family and supporting them as much as we can at this time."

Anyone with any information into the incident is asked to contact police on 101 ext 69191 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.