A WOMAN was taken to hospital after being attacked in a serious assault in an Eastleigh park in the middle of the night.

The victim was seen being followed by a man along Leigh Road at around 2.15am today.

She was then assaulted in Leigh Road park and rushed to Southampton General Hospital, having suffered soft tissue bruising.

An Eastleigh town centre CCTV operator reportedly saw a man acting suspiciously before the attack.

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of serious assault. He remains in police custody at this time.

Officers are investigating if the Eastleigh incident is connected with another attack, which took place on Monday night between 9pm and 11.40pm on Southsea Common.

Police were called by the South Central Ambulance Service to reports of a 40-year-old woman who had been seriously assaulted.

She was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital after suffering a possible fractured cheekbone and bruising to her face, arms, legs and back. 

A force spokesperson said the same 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of serious assault in relation to the Southsea incident.

"We are in the process of investigating both incidents to ascertain if there are any possible links between the two attacks," the spokesperson said.