DETECTIVES hunting a paedophile who snatched a six-year-old girl from her bath have appealed to a mystery caller who has named a man he believes was involved.

The young victim was left naked and shivering in an alley near her North Tyneside home after she was repeatedly sexually abused in the man's car on December 27.

Now police are trying to trace a man who telephoned the incident room several times in the past few weeks, including when the incident at Willington Quay was featured on Crimewatch UK.

He has also contacted pubs in the North Tyneside area and left messages of a similar nature.

Each time he calls, he gives information about a man he believes is responsible for carrying out the offence.

However, they also need to trace the caller, who speaks with a Scottish accent but has not left his name.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Napier, who is leading the investigation, said: "We need to trace this caller so that we can ask him what information he does have and why he has given us the name of a particular person. He can speak to us in complete confidence."

He added: "The man named by the caller has been traced and interviewed. And while at this stage there is no evidence to suggest he is involved, inquiries are ongoing."

Detectives are continuing to follow more than 30 calls made after the television appeal.

He said the attacker was white and was dressed almost entirely in black.

His team of officers want to trace a red or burgundy Volkswagen, possibly a VW Golf with an M or N registration, which was seen driving slowly around the Willington area, including the back lanes, two or three hours before the girl was abducted.

A red car, possibly an oldstyle BMW 3-series, was seen being driven at speed from Bewicke Road then west along Hadrian Road at about 7.15pm on the night of the abduction.

A black Ford Focus was seen around Station Road and Bewicke Road at about 6.30pm. The car was being driven at speed and making excessive noise, as if it had a fault.

The mystery man has been asked to contact North Shields police station on 0191-214 6555 ext 63806.