DETECTIVES are appealing for help to find a sex attacker after a young woman was subjected to a horrific assault as she walked home.

The 20-year-old was making her way home from Southampton city centre when the attack took place.

Police say the woman had been at a nightclub and had left in a taxi, which dropped her at the Itchen Bridge shortly before 3am on Saturday morning.

The woman began walking across the bridge towards the Woolston area when a car pulled up and offered her a lift.

The woman got into the car and was driven across the bridge just short of the toll booths where she got out.

She began walking down a grass verge towards her home when the serious sex assault took place.

Police believe the man driving the car was responsible and are now urging drivers in the area to help identify him.

They are asking anyone who was in the area who noticed a vehicle pulling up or parked in the area between 3am and 3.30am to come forward.

It's also thought several cars passed the woman as she was walking and detectives want to speak to anyone who remembers seeing her shortly before the attack.

Witnesses or people with information are asked to contact Shirley CID on 101.