A major police hunt is under way after one woman was raped and another was sexually assaulted in Southend town centre.

Detectives were not ruling out a link between the two because a description of the two attackers was so similar.

The first attack happened at 12.20am today (Friday) when a 24-year-old woman was grabbed and dragged into an outbuilding as she walked through an alley between Church Road and Lucy Road.

She was then subjected to a serious sexual assault, before her attacker ran off in the direction of the Royals shopping centre when passers-by walked through the alley.

The woman, who received a cut to her head, was left "extremely distressed" after the attack.

At 2.20am today, a 20-year-old woman was grabbed and raped as she walked in Hamlet Road, Southend.

Det Chief Insp Alan Hurley, of Southend police, today launched an extensive witness hunt.

He said: "I would stress that it is much too early to link the two.

"However, these incidents were in very close proximity to each other and the description given of the attacker by the second girl is not dissimilar to the first.

"There were people about there - we have already got some witnesses who saw the man making off, and I am asking for anybody else at that location at that time to contact us as a matter of urgency.

"With the public's help there is a very good possibility we can catch this man sooner rather than later."

The attacker is white, medium build, aged around 27 and 5'9" tall, with blond cropped hair, wearing a black puffed style jacket and jeans.

Witnesses are asked to urgently telephone Southend CID on 01702 431212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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