Man held over sex attack

The 40-year-old man, who comes from the Chippenham area, is being questioned by police in connection with an incident on Tuesday last week, when a Sheldon School pupil told police she had been assaulted while walking home from school through a wooded area off Hardenhuish Lane.

Parents in the town have been left worried and frightened by the alleged assault. Over 300 people have been quizzed by police in connection with the incident, after they stopped drivers in the area at the same time exactly a week later.

Chief Supt Paul Howlett, of Wiltshire police, said: "Any sexual assault, particularly one involving a young schoolgirl, is likely to cause concern, but particularly in a low crime area such as Chippenham. "We are determined to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion."

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, left Sheldon School on March 21 at about 6.15pm and made her way up the hill past St Nicholas' Church. She told police that when she reached the wooded area on the right-hand side of Hardenhuish Lane she heard a raised voice, entered the woods to investigate and was then subjected to a serious sexual assault.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Kier Pritchard said: "We need the public to help us establish the facts around this incident. "The eyes and ears of the public are crucial to any police investigation and I would ask that anyone with any information that might assist us, no matter how trivial, should please contact us."

• It is understood the man arrested on Wednesday night had already been arrested on Saturday as part of the inquiries into the incident, and released on police bail on Monday.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the girl near the time of the attack or who thinks they saw anything suspicious anywhere in the vicinity between 5.30-7.30pm.

Anyone with any information can call 0845 408 7000, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.