Hastings Police are investigating the rape of a 14 year old girl in Flaxmere.

The girl was walking home from a friend's house shortly after midnight last night, when a man began following her near the Flaxmere shopping centre.

He caught her near the skatebowl, grabbed her from behind, pulled her to the ground and raped her.

Detective Jeff Foley says the girl managed to get home and alert police.

He says it was a traumatic and frightening incident and the young girl is very upset.

The man's described as a tall, skinny male, wearing a grey hooded top, black shorts, white socks but no shoes and a dark coloured cap.