A serial rapist has claimed his tenth victim with an horrific attack on a schoolgirl.

The man, who has a North-East accent, struck once again last Friday - just hours after detectives had made an appeal on national television for public help.

His latest victim, a 14-year-old girl, was dragged through woodland in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, before being raped at knifepoint.

The attacker has always struck in urban areas on a weekday, grabbing women from behind and forcing them into undergrowth.

In the majority of cases, he has taken clothing or property from his victims - leading to him being dubbed the "trophy rapist."

The man has raped two girls, aged ten and 12, and six women since last November in the Kent, Surrey, Berkshire and London areas. Another woman managed to escape after her dog bit him.

Friday's attack followed a BBC Crimewatch appeal the previous evening, highlighting his year-long reign of terror. Two victims, who were attacked in the Wimbledon area, have told police that the man is about 5ft 7in, in his thirties and has a North-East, possibly Geordie, accent. He has a stocky or muscular build, with ruddy complexion, and has ginger hair.