A 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in a Powys town centre as hundreds of people partied nearby.The teenager was attacked during the annual Llanidloes Fancy Dress, which sees revellers dress up in costumes for a night out in the town.

Dyfed-Powys Police spokeswoman Sian George said detectives were appealing for anyone with information about the incident, which happened near St Idloes Church, to come forward.

“Dyfed-Powys Police are investigating a serious sexual assault,” she said.

“The girl told police the man attacked her in an area of the church grounds bordering the river through the town.

“Officers are seeking a man aged between 20 and 30, 5ft 6in, who was wearing a red dressing gown and brown old-fashioned looking sandals.”

The attack is said to have happened on Friday, at about 10pm.

Nick Venti, joint organiser of Llanidloes Fancy Dress, said the alleged assault has overshadowed an otherwise successful event.

“It is a great shame something like this has happened during the fancy dress evening,” he said.

“It has overshadowed the event, which was otherwise a success, enjoyed by many people. Myself and joint organiser Benji Rees took the fancy dress on four years ago and put security around the town along with St John Ambulancemen.

“This is one of those things you don’t expect to happen and can’t plan for.”

Mr Rees said: “It is a very unfortunate situation.”

Miss George said police would like to speak to anyone who recalls a man in an ankle-length red dressing gown at the event, or anyone who knows anyone who was there dressed similarly.

“Members of the public may have seen a man dressed like that with a young girl near the church,” she said.

One resident, who attended the event and declined to be named said: “The alleged attack put a dampener on the event and the whole weekend.

“The evening seemed to be as enjoyable and going as smoothly as any other year, but word spread that the police had been called to an incident and it seemed to kill the mood. It is terrible.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Dyfed-Powys Police on 08453 302000.

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