POLICE have told women to carry attack alarms and jog in pairs after a sex attack at a Swindon beauty spot.

A woman out running in Berryman's Woods near the Mouldon Hill Lake country park was sexually assaulted at about midday on Saturday.

The 40-year-old was jogging when the man came up behind her.

Police say he wrestled her to the ground, and the woman fought back and shouted for help. She managed to fight him off and he fled across some fields.

The man was in his early 30s, white, and had an olive complexion. He was about 5ft 8in, of a medium build, and had short dark hair that was spiked on top and on the sides. He wore an outdoor-style shiny anorak and elasticated jogging bottoms.

DC Paul Hacker from Swindon police said that the area is popular with dog walkers and joggers, while the nearby Mouldon Hill Lake attracts many fishermen.

He asked anyone in the area at the time to try to remember if they saw a man of this description, and added that there was a heavy downpour immediately afterwards, so the man would probably have looked very muddy after he ran off.

He added: "We advise joggers, particularly women, to carry personal attack alarms which raise the alarm but can also disorientate an attacker."

He also said women should run in pairs wherever possible and stick to popular routes.

Anyone with information can call police on 0845 408 7000.