Detectives investigating a sex attack on a 14-year-old girl have returned to the scene of the crime as they step up their bid to snare the culprit.

Officers carried out a stop-and-speak operation outside the On-X sports centre, in Linwood, on Saturday – one week on from when the assault took place.

Around 40 people were spoken to by detectives and uniformed cops during the operation.

Officers are now looking through the information gathered and will follow up any new lines of enquiry.

The attack took place at around 9.45pm on April 21 in a wooded area behind the sports centre in Brediland Road.

The schoolgirl had been with a group of friends and, after leaving the woods, made her way back there to look for something she had lost.

She was approached from behind by a pervert who subjected her to a terrifying ordeal.

The sex beast is described as in his early 20s with dark stubble. At the time, he was wearing a dark hooded top and trousers.

Detective Inspector Iain Ross is appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

He told The Gazette: “A team of officers is continuing to work on this investigation and are studying a large amount of CCTV footage that has been gathered from the local area to gain further information on the man responsible.

“Again, I would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area around the time of the incident last week who may have seen anything suspicious, or who may have seen a young man fitting this description, to come forward.

"Any information that may assist in identifying this man can be passed to officers based at Paisley through 101, quoting reference number 4789 of Saturday, April 21.

"Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.”