Warning after Royal Park attacks

Women using a Royal Park in Surrey are being told not to wear headphones and stay alert after a series of attacks.

Notices have been put up at Virginia Water Lake in Windsor Great Park, where two of the incidents took place.

In the latest attack, on 25 July, a 47-year-old local woman suffered cuts to the head when she was hit with a weapon near the Canadian Totem Pole.

A 19-year-old woman was indecently assaulted and violently punched in an attack in the same area on 4 February.

"However familiar you might be with this area, you should always be aware of your surroundings," said Ch Supt Sue Warren.

We are keen to hear from any woman who has been approached or threatened by a man in the vicinity Det Ch Insp Gary Sumner

"You are advised not to wear headphones but to use your eyes and ears to remain alert to what is going on around you."

Detectives have issued a description of a man they want to trace.

He is a tanned white man with a weathered face and wrinkles around the eyes. He is 35-50, about 5ft 7in and slightly built.

The man has been seen wearing dark clothing, possibly tracksuit bottoms, and trainers.

Last December a 20-year-old student suffered a fractured skull in a hammer attack by a man in the grounds of St Jude's Church in Englefield Green.

Police said all the attacks were believed to have a sexual motive but it was not yet known whether they were linked.

"But we are keen to hear from any woman who has been approached or threatened by a man in the vicinity to contact us immediately," said Det Ch Insp Gary Sumner.