A man seriously assaulted a teenage girl after going into her home and then pursuing her to a West Auckland park.

Police say a man entered a property on Parma Place in Sunnyvale on Wednesday morning, startling the girl.

“This man has followed the victim from the property to a reserve area off Chislehurst St where she has been subjected to an assault,” police said.

Police are now looking at CCTV footage and have examined the reserve and the girl’s home.

Police have asked anyone who witnessed suspicious activity around Parma Place, Chistlehurst St, Newham Place and Bloom Cres on Wednesday morning to contact them.

The Herald understands the girl was found highly distressed by a group of children on bikes.

A local resident told Stuff the man dragged her into the park and threw her into the mud.

The intersection of Parma Place and Chislehurst Street in Auckland's Sunnyvale where police are investigating the serious assault of a teenage girl. Photo / Alex Burton

“He picked up mud and threw it into her face.

“She was hiding in the bush when a group of children saw her. She screamed for help and a group of bikers helped her until the police arrived.”

Waitākere councillor Shane Henderson told the Herald the community was “freaking out, they’re really upset”.

”It sounded pretty serious, but at the same time look we’re still in a bit of a vacuum of information, we’re still learning a lot about what is happening.”

Henderson said the police were “well on top of it” but if community members do have any information he urges them to contact the police.

Police are now looking at CCTV footage and have examined the reserve and the girl’s home. Photo / Alex Burton

”I understand that the Sunnyvale community are hurting and that they’re really on edge. I hope that with the release of information it will start to feel a little bit calmer while the police do their work.”

Information can be provided through the police 105 phone service or by going online to using ‘Update My Report’. Please reference file number 230419/4024.

People can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

• This story initially said the assault took place at the Dalmatia Green Playground. This has since been corrected.