A woman has been sexually assaulted in an alleyway.

The woman, in her early 30s, was approached from behind and pulled to the ground in Lucton’s Path, Loughton, between 8pm and 8.30pm last night.

The attacker, described as a black man in his late 20s, is thought to have turned back into Borders Lane and then gone into Honeycroft after the attack.

Inspector Andy Fusher, of Loughton police, will be putting extra officers on to the streets in the area to provide reassurance and to speak to anyone who had concerns.

He said: “Incidents of this type, in these circumstances, are fortunately very rare, but we appreciate the concern that they can cause people.”

Police are advising the public to avoid quiet or badly lit alleyways, subways or isolated car parks and to use well lit, busy streets and routes which they know.

Officers also advise people to avoid passing stationary cars with their engines running with people sitting in them.

The force also said a ploy some attackers have been known to use is to warn of the danger of walking alone and then offers to accompany the potential victim.