A BOY aged 16 has been charged with the rape and attempted murder of a ten-year-old girl in Devon.

He is due to appear in court this morning accused of the daylight attack in Exmouth last week.

The girl was said to have been returning home from school when she was allegedly set upon by a man close to a popular play area.

She was carried back to her mum in a "distressed state" and cops arrested a 16-year-old boy after launching an investigation.

He has now been charged with attempted murder and rape and will appear at Exeter Magistrates Court today.