A manhunt has been launched after an 18-year-old woman was found dead in a Wigan park.

A student was reported missing yesterday evening by her family after she failed to return from college and police are working to establish if she is the victim.

The body was found in local beauty spot Orrell Water Park at about 2.30am this morning after police received information 'via social media'.

They said she was found with head injuries.

Detective Superintendent Howard Millington said it was a 'brutal attack' of a kind 'rarely seen in Greater Manchester'. Pictured: Orrell Water Park, where the woman's body was found early this morning

The body of the 18-year-old girl was found in Orrell Water Park (pictured above) at about 2.30am this morning

Police said they can't rule out a sexual motivation for the attack. Pictured: An officer guards the entrance to the park

Pictured: Police at the scene investigating the death. Detective Superintendent Millington said: 'Things like this don't happen in Orrell'

Detective Superintendent Howard Millington said: 'This was a brutal attack on a young woman, the type rarely seen in Greater Manchester.

'We have a full investigation team working on finding out what exactly happened to her and to try and find the person who did this.'

He added: 'I understand that there will be many people in the community extremely worried, things like this don't happen in Orrell, but I would like to reassure them that we are working as hard as we possibly can to get the answers to all of the questions.'

Police also said two young women were reported to have been followed by two men in the area on Thursday.

Pictured: Police investigating at the scene in Wigan

Pictured: Flowers, which have already been laid for the victim of the attack

Pictured: Flowers laid at a sign near Orrell Water Park in Wigan

There will be a large police presence in the area and on the streets as the death is investigated.

Police said they 'can't rule out' a sexual motive in the investigation, but they don't yet have any suspects.

They also warned people from going near the area.

Detective Superintendent Millington added: 'This is very much an ongoing investigation, we will leave no stone unturned and myself and my team will not stop until we have found out exactly what happened and have brought whoever did this to justice.'

Pictured: A close-up of a bouquet of flowers left at the scene of the 18-year-old girl's death

Police said there will be a large police presence in the area (pictured) and on the streets as the death is investigated

Formal identification has yet to be established and police said they are keeping an open mind at this stage.

At a press conference this afternoon, Detective Superintendent Millington said he would dedicate 'significant resources' to the investigation.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 7103 or 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers - anonymously - on 0800 555 111.