Police have recovered bedclothes stolen by a masked man who raped a teenager in her Scholes home.

The duvet, pillow and sheets were found locally but police will not reveal the exact location.

The bedclothes were today being examined by forensic experts for vital clues to the attacker's identity.

People in the close-knit community have been shocked and horrified by the rape.

Police were today continuing their inquiries into the sex attack by the man who broke into the girl's home at about 4.30am on Sunday.

She woke up to find him standing at the foot of her bed.

The youngster was alone in the house at the time and has been left severely traumatised by her ordeal.

She has received counselling from specially-trained officers and was able to give a description of her assailant.

Twenty-five officers are working on the case and have been carrying out house-to-house inquiries.

The force helicopter and officers on horseback were also combing the area yesterday.

An 18-year-old friend of the teenager said: "I cried when I heard what happened. I have known the girl since we were at middle school together.

"It's frightening that someone could do something like that in a small village like this.

"I have been making sure all my doors and windows are locked properly since this happened."

Marilyn Wood, shop assistant at Hadfield's bakers in the centre of the village, said: "It's shocking that you can't even feel safe in your own home.

"This is a close-knit community and everybody tends to be affected by something like this."

Denise Dean, landlady of the Walkers Arms pub, said: "A lot of women in the village are frightened by what has happened and feel very vulnerable.

"No woman will feel safe until this man is caught."

Paul Bentley, sub postmaster at Scholes Post Office, said: "The rape is the talk of the village.

"You just don't expect something so terrible to happen in a small village like this."

Anyone with information should contact Dewsbury CID on (01924) 431081 or 0845 6060606.

The rapist is described as white and in his late 20s.

He was wearing a black balaclava, black jeans with a large belt buckle and a black zip-up top.

Detective Superintendent Stuart Hyde, leading the investigation, said it was unusual for someone to be raped in their home by a stranger.

He said detectives were making inquiries to see if this case was linked to other similar attacks.

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