A NAKED man wearing nothing more than trainers and a backpack jumped out at a runner from behind some trees.

Police were called after the man jumped out at Sarah Clarke, who was running between Heath Farm and Ford Lane in Alresford.

She said the man bid her ‘morning’ before scampering off in the opposite direction.

Mrs Clarke, who was left in shock, called her husband, the police, and the nearby Alresford Primary School to warn them.

She said: “It was a totally random time for something like that to happen. There are a lot of people walking their dogs down there.

“I was running and I saw something ahead of me but didn’t think anything of it. I was changing a song on my phone at the time. Just as I got up to speed he jumped out from my right.

“I said something along the lines of ‘Oh my God’ and he just said ‘Morning’ then scurried off in the opposite direction.”

She called her husband, saying the man kept glancing back at her before disappearing.

Sarah noticed a dog walker up ahead and ran over to her before calling the police.

She said: “My husband came up and saw a white Vauxhall Astra van, inside there was a man with no top on.

“He asked the man if he had jumped out from the trees and the man said no, he was on his way to work, but he matched the description.”

She added: “He obviously chose his moment. Similar incidents happened in September and December as well. It could have been a lot worse as lots of children walk along there.”

The incident was not believed to have been sexually motivated.

The man was described as being of mixed race, between 5ft 7ins and 5ft 9ins, had dark hair and was of a slim build.

The incident happened on Monday, January 7, between 10am and 10.30am.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We received reports of a naked man in Ford Lane.

“We attended and searched the area but were unable locate him.We received no other reports from the public.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.