THE victim of a sexual assault on Southampton Common told police she feels "a deep sense of fear" after a man tried to drag her into bushes and attack her.

The impact of the assault in broad daylight was revealed as detectives continued their hunt for the man responsible.

As reported in later edition's of yesterday's Daily Echo, the 19-year-old woman was grabbed from behind as she walked along a pathway at the edge of the Common, known locally as Lovers Walk.

Police are treating the assault as sexually motivated.

Yesterday the scene of the attack remained cordoned off while police mounted a major operation, with officers located all around the area stopping passers-by and asking them for information.

More than 20 detectives and officers were involved in the investigation, being led by Bitterne CID. Yesterday they issued a warning to women not to walk alone and urged people to walk in groups and be vigilant, taking measures like ensuring they carried a mobile phone.

The assault happened around midday on Tuesday on the pathway that runs in front of a row of houses near to Highfield Lane.

The man, who police described as being possibly of Mediterranean or Arabic appearance, pounced from behind and repeatedly tried to pull the woman into bushes.She managed to break free when a passer-by approached.

She told police: "I feel confused more than anything, and most of the time I'm just in a daze. I'm still in a lot of pain from the attack."

For the full story see today's Daily Echo