Detectives investigating the attempted abduction of a 13-year-old girl have released an artist's impression of the suspect and are appealing for witnesses.

Specialists from the Met's Facial Imaging Team worked with the teenage girl following the incident to compile the image.

The girl was waiting at a bus stop on Homestead Way, New Addington, just before 9am on July 17 when she noticed a small white pick-up truck coming from the direction of Overbury Crescent.

The vehicle pulled up and the suspect jumped out and grabbed the victim.

He then tried to pull her into the truck causing the youngster to scream which startled the suspect who then fled in the direction of King Henry’s Drive.

The man is thought to be in his late twenties or early thirties and is described as white, with very pale skin, around 5ft 10ins, very skinny, clean-shaven and with dark eyes.

He was wearing a black, soft-fabric round neck jumper with long sleeves and a blob of white paint on the front.

He wore black trousers, possibly tracksuit bottoms, with white paint on them, and black boots with one white lace and one black lace.

The pick-up truck is described as small, white, with no lettering on the side and green bars coming from the rear. It had tools in the back and black seats with a white zigzag pattern.

Detective Sergeant Jeff Edwards, from Croydon Police, said: "This incident will concern parents, but I would advise them such instances are very rare, but when they do occur we take them extremely seriously.

“The victim has been able to provide a very detailed description of the suspect and I am sure that when this is combined with the e-fit that someone will recognise him."

Anyone with any information is urged to call 0208 649 0090 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.