Police have launched an appeal to trace a couple who came to the aid of a teenage rape victim almost 25 years ago.

The victim was 15-years-old when she was raped at a house in Runcorn in 1990.

She managed to escape from the property and ran along Halton Road until she flagged down a car driven by a man in his early 20s. His passenger was a woman of a similar age.

The victim reported the incident to police earlier this year. The search for the couple was initially focused on the local area but the inquiry has been widened in case they now live further afield.

Detective Inspector Clare Coleman of Cheshire Police said: "Even though it was a long time ago, I am sure that the couple will still remember picking up a teenage girl who was clearly in a distressed state and certainly remember hearing the shocking revelation that she had been raped.

"The man and the woman kindly dropped her off and made sure she got into her house safely. Maybe as an afterthought, the woman knocked on the door and urged the girl to tell her parents what had happened to her.

"However, the victim made her go because she didn't want her parents to know what had happened.

"I would urge this man and woman to come forward and help us with our investigation. I'm sure they must wonder whatever happened to that young girl they helped - and would want to do anything they could to help her again if they had the opportunity. This is their chance."

The couple are urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.