DETECTIVES are hunting the fourth sex attacker to strike in a Wearside town in the past seven months.

The latest attack happened in the Princess Anne Park, Glebe, Washington, when a 40-year-old woman was indecently assaulted in daylight.

It follows three rapes in the surrounding area between July and December last year, none of which are connected or have any links to the park attack, police said last night. Detectives said the indecent assault was sinister because it happened in a public place during the day.

The woman was walking near a subway, at 2.40pm, on Thursday, when a man appeared from bushes, grabbed her from behind and tried to drag her to the ground.

She fought off the attacker who fled, leaving his victim badly shaken, but otherwise unhurt.

The man was described as aged about 20, 5ft 8in, of medium build, and unshaven. He wore a cream hooded jacket and blue trousers or jeans.

Detective Inspector Ray Morton, of Washington CID, said: "The aggravating factor in this assault was that it was mid-afternoon and in a public park. Thankfully, the woman is recovering after managing to fight the man off."

The park is about a mile from Braefell Court, in Albany, where a 17-year-old girl was raped at knife-point as she walked home, in December.

In October, a 17-year-old A-level student was raped on a bridle path near the City of Sunderland College, in nearby Shiney Row.

Last July, a 15-year-old was raped near a footbridge over the A1231 Sunderland Highway linking Oxclose and Blackfell, also in Washington.

Det Insp Morton stressed that none of the attacks was linked and added that inquiries were still continuing into each case.

Anyone with information is urged to call Washington CID on 0191-454 7555