Events surrounding the rape of a 68-year-old woman have been reconstructed for a television appeal.

The e-fit of the rapist

Actors played out the shocking attack in front of the cameras at the scene on Thursday night, for a Crime Night programme to be screened on Anglia TV at 11.30pm on January 24.

Detectives from Essex Police's major investigations unit are hoping the programme will jog someone's memory for the vital clue they need to catch the "vile" rapist.

Det Insp Adrian Tyson, deputy senior investigating officer, said: "We are hoping it will go hand in glove with our Crimestoppers appeal, where we are trying to get a £5,000 reward.

"It is one thing to show people pictures of the scene, but it's when it is reconstructed that it really hits home to people.

"Ideally, what we would like is witnesses to the offence to come forward - even the elderly chap wearing a mac and with sandy-coloured hair who started to come to the aid of the victim."

The pensioner was subjected to a ten-minute ordeal in Artillery Barracks Folley, off Butt Road, Colchester, at about 8pm on December 2.

Detectives are still examining leads given in the early stages of the investigation, but need more information.

Detectives are looking into two incidents where women were followed by a strange man in Butt Road.

The rapist is described as white, aged about 25, with a muscular build. He had a sleeper earring in his left ear and was wearing a long black leather jacket or coat.

Anyone with information should contact the incident room on 0800 3892873

Published Monday January 14, 2002