Neighbours are disgusted that no one came to help an 11-year-old schoolgirl who was raped in a park on Friday in an ordeal that lasted hours.

The victim was dragged into Jubilee Park from Galliard Road at approximately 5pm after getting off a school bus.

She needed hospital treatment after an attack which lasted between two and three hours.

Residents overlooking the park claim many people would have been in the park during the time of the attack and have hit out at witnesses for being too afraid to come forward. 

Tony Panayiotou was at home in Hamilton Avenue, which overlooks the park, on Friday evening.

The 43-year-old said: “What’s concerning is that no one stopped. Friday at 5pm is peak time where there are so many people in the park. It shows a blatant disregard to the public at the moment.

“There’s no way that somebody didn’t see what happened – it’s typical. I think people are just scared to come forward. I know I would have done.

“There are so many people in there – it would have been impossible for nobody to see what happened. It beggars belief.”

Mr Panayiotou, who has lived in Hamilton Avenue for 11 years, claims the park's gates are rarely closed and people often walk through the park at night.

According to Enfield Borough Council, the park’s gates were closed at 4.49pm. However the council admitted it is difficult to stop people breaking in. 

The schoolgirl returned home between 7.45pm and 8pm and she told her family of her ordeal.

Orla Doran, who has lived in Galliard Road for two years, said: “It seems strange that people may have been walking around and nobody saw anything.”

The 32-year-old added: “They are scared to come forward around here or too intimidated because people might be carrying a knife."

Caroline Paveinella, who has lived in Hamilton Avenue for 35 years, is too scared to walk alone through the park after dark and is considering moving away from the area after the incident.

The 77-year-old said: I think it’s terrible. We live in a terrible area now. My children grew up in the park but now you can’t go there – it’s terrible.”

Nutan Rajabally, who lives in Galliard Road, refused to leave the house on Friday evening when she heard police cars and a helicopter outside.

The 49-year-old said: "It’s made me scared. It could have happened to me.

"It’s terrible – we live in a nice area here but this makes us scared.”

Joe Cass, who lives in Galliard Road, said he is surprised no one heard the attack even if it was too dark for witnesses to see. 

The 48-year-old said: It’s awful. It’s disgusting. It’s just horrible.”

However, he said: “People are just too scared to get involved.

“When you hear them screaming, you think ‘are they screaming for help or are they having a girly scream?’”

A 26-year-old man was arrested today on suspicion of rape.

Any witnesses or anyone with information that could assist police should call the incident room on 020 8345 4326 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.