POLICE are investigating after a man indecently exposed himself to a female dog walker in a popular beauty spot.

The woman was walking with her pooch in High Woods Country Park near to Northfield Gardens, Colchester, at around 1.15pm on Monday when she noticed she was being followed.

A short time later, the man approached her in order to ask a question before exposing himself.

She left the area in the direction of The Gilberd School and called the police.

The victim, who asked not to be named, said: "I would hate for it to happen to anyone else, especially school kids who cut through there each day before and after school."

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed officers are appealing for witnesses following the incident.

He said: "We were called at around 1.30pm on Monday 8 July to reports a man had indecently exposed himself to a woman at the High Woods Country Park in Colchester.

"The man has been described to us as black, in his 20s, with hair which was shaved round the sides and wearing grey tracksuit trousers, a blue t-shirt and light-blue Nike trainers."

Witnesses are asked to contact Essex Police on 101 quoting crime reference number 42/108179/19 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.