A masked man who tried to rip off a young woman's blouse could be a serial attacker responsible for at least two other assaults on women.

Police said they are linking Saturday night's attack in Electric Avenue, Westcliff, with similar attacks in the area since last August.

They have urged anyone with information about the latest attack and two others, in North Road in April and in Hainault Avenue last November, to come forward.

Yesterday (Wednesday), Det Con Dave Nash, of Leigh CID, said: "There are differences but many similarities, although we can't positively say it's the same man."

In each case, the attacker wore a balaclava, threatened his victims and tried to remove their clothes.

The three attacks happened within half a mile of each other. The latest attack was on a woman, in her 20s.

She was punched in the arm. The culprit tried to rip off her blouse but fled after she screamed. On April 16 a masked man wielding a knife threatened an 18-year-old woman in North Road.

Then on November 11, two women, aged 19 and 21, fought off an attacker in Hainault Avenue.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Nash at Leigh police station on 01702 471212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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