POLICE have released an artist's impression of a man they believe carried out a sex attack on a female jogger.

As reported in Monday's Adver the man struck in a local beauty spot in broad daylight on Saturday.

Police have warned woman not to jog alone in Berriman's Wood near Mouldon Hill country park in north west Swindon.

Acting Det Sgt Paul Hacker said the 40-year-old woman was out running when her attacker struck.

The man approached the woman from behind and dragged her to the ground.

The woman fought back and managed to escape. She was able to give a description of the man to police.

Now ADS Hacker is hoping the artist's impression will lead them to the culprit.

The man ran off through muddy fields following the attack.

ADS Hacker said: "We're hoping that the combination of the likelihood of this man having mud up to his knees and the artist's impression will trigger someone's memory into identifying who he is."

Another development in the case is that the man spoke with a foreign accent and ADS Hacker said that could be a key detail in identifying him.

The area is popular with dog walkers and fishermen and police, who say there were a lot of people around at the time of the attack on Saturday morning, are hoping for witnesses to come forward.

Those who use the area, which is near Taw Hill, said they were shocked to hear of such an incident.

The attacker is white, with an olive complexion, aged 30 to 35 years old and approximately 5ft 8in tall.

He is of medium to heavy build, with short, dark hair spiked at the front and sides and was wearing a short zip-up anorak, made of a slightly shiny material, and jogging bottoms.

ADS Hacker said: "There were a lot of people out and about, particularly near Mouldon Hill Lake, which is a popular fishing spot.

"Within minutes of this incident there was quite a heavy downpour so it's quite likely the assailant was very muddy from having run off through open fields."

ADS Hacker is encouraging women to use a personal attack alarm, which could attract attention and disorientate an attacker.

And he said women should run in pairs as an added precaution.

Anyone with information should call ADS Hacker at Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.