A 13-year-old girl told a “terrible” lie when she falsely claimed she had been sexually assaulted in a park, police said.

The girl said she was walking with her friend in a park in Leigh, Greater Manchester, when a man approached her from behind before hitting her and throwing her to the floor.

The girl’s 12-year-old friend took a picture of the man, which was then released by police as they attempted to trace the alleged attacker.

However, Greater Manchester police said on Tuesday that the girls had admitted lying about the attack.

The man, who attended a police station in an attempt to clear his name, has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Detectives said the girls had been “spoken to in the strongest possible terms” and had written letters of apology to the man. They will face no further police action.

DC Brian Johnston thanked members of the public for contacting officers in an attempt to clear the man’s name.

He said: “First and foremost, I would like to send my sincerest thanks to the members of public who came forward and helped with our investigation. Your assistance has resulted in an innocent man clearing his name, and wrongs being righted.

“Quite what inspired the girls to lie about such a serious and terrible crime, I cannot say. But they have been spoken to in the strongest possible terms and are under no illusions as to the severity of what they have done and how damaging false allegations can be.

“Thankfully, their parents and the man in question were fully supportive of restorative justice and the girls will now have the chance to apologise fully for the terrible accusations they fabricated against this poor man.”