A campaign to improve safety down a pathway that has been the site of several high profile attacks has been launched "before someone gets killed".

On the evening of England's World Cup match against Colombia a man was attacked on Loughton's Great Eastern Path in a brutal assault that left him with a fractured jaw.

In February 2014 a 12 year-old girl was also targeted in the alleyway, this time at 9.15am by an older boy who stole her money.

Just a month earlier, then 29 year-old Michael Mackles was seriously injured as he attempted to stop a man assaulting a woman.

The Dunmow Close, Loughton resident suffered a broken jaw and told The Guardian at the time: "I have to go out at night because of when I come home from work but it’s very stressful.

“I take a different route home from work now.”

Now Daryl Schneider, a 28 year-old Loughton resident and friend of the Great Eastern Path's latest victim, has argued the conditions down the lane are not acceptable.

The dental nurse said: "Everybody has been telling the council 'put in CCTV and improve the lighting.'

"How many more people need to get hurt before they do something?

"Someone could get killed or raped down there.

"The lighting is not good enough. I am scarred of walking down there.

"I get my mum to pick me up in the evenings, and I know people get taxis from the station to their houses just around the corner."

In the 2014 the need for additional lighting was discussed at a town council meeting by Loughton Resident's Association councillors, who argued for all-night illumination in "isolated places like Great Eastern Path."

Despite their suggestion, the alley remains irregularly lit by concrete column style lamps that leave the surrounding grassland in near complete darkness.

Now Mrs Schneider has started a petition urging Epping Forest District Council to install lighting and CCTV down the alleyway in a bid to stop the attacks.

She added: "Over the last few years many people have been mugged and attacked down the Great Eastern Path.

"To this day, the lighting is awful and there is no CCTV whatsoever down the path.

"Some people have been attacked in broad daylight, others after work and some late at night.

"We need your help to change this and bring better lighting and CCTV to the Great Eastern Path - which is used by hundreds of commuters and local people everyday - to help put a stop to this and help bring these cowards to justice."

To sign the petition, go to www.change.org/p/epping-forest-council-put-better-lighting-and-cctv-on-the-great-eastern-path-in-loughton-essex

The district council did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

Anyone with information about the most recent Great Eastern Path attack is asked to call Loughton police station on 101 quoting 42/87072/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.