THE manhunt for a rapist who subjected a 13-year-old girl to a terrifying attack just yards away from a busy pub goes on today.

Last night a team of officers from Gwent Police carried out door-to-door inquiries in the Penllwyn area of Pontllanfraith to try to trace the man.

Officers asked residents if they were in the vicinity of the pub, or if they had seen or heard anything around 10pm on Tuesday, the night of the attack.

A spokesman said the operation could take up to two days to complete, as police glean as much information as they can from those living close to the scene of an attack that police have described as "extremely distressing".

Mother of three Katrina Jenkins, of Fleur De Lys Avenue, just yards from the Penllwyn Arms, told the Argus she feared for the safety of her children while the suspect was at large.

"I've got a daughter who's 12, and she often uses that path. It's part of her school route," she said.

"My son and daughter were out until 9.45pm on Tuesday - it could have been one of them."

Mother of one Rebecca Prosser, also of Fleur De Lys Avenue, said: "It's just so close to home. We're just all so shocked."

Pontllanfraith councillor Malcolm Parker said: "Everybody walks up and down the footpaths and lanes around the Penllwyn.

"When something like this happens that element of doubt creeps in, about whether women should be using lanes or footpaths, which is a pity, really.

"Everybody knows everybody on the Penllwyn estate, so if he had been in the pub, then there is a very good chance of catching him."

The rape happened on scrubland near the Penllwyn Arms in Pontllanfraith at around 10pm on Tuesday.

The girl had been outside the pub (there had been no suggestion she had been inside) and police say her attacker had been inside.

After the rape, police say the girl walked down a pathway from Glan Islwyn to Brynglas Avenue, followed by her attacker.

The teenager, who was by now extremely distressed, was spotted by a group of girls at the bottom of the path, which caused her assailant to run back in the direction of the pub.

Around 30 officers are now working on the case and Detective Superintendent Geoff Ronayne, who is heading the investigation, said he is confident the attacker will be tracked down. He is urging the man to give himself up.

The attacker is described as being white, in his late teens, short, with mousy-coloured hair. He was wearing dark trousers and a white top.