POLICE are hunting a man who runs around at night wearing nothing but a nappy and asks women: "Are there any baby changing facilities around here?"

A number of people have reported sightings of the pervert running around the Eaglescliffe area of Stockton in the past few months.

He hides in bushes wearing the oversized nappy and then jumps out, startling women who walk past.

The latest incident happened on Sunday night when 58-year-old Ros Goodwin was walking her Boxer dog, Eui, through the play area in the town's St Margaret's Park, Wentworth Way.

The supermarket checkout supervisor, who lives close to the park, said she saw the man run passed her at about 11pm and at first thought it was a jogger - until she noticed he was hardly wearing anything.

She made a detour across the grass, and then the man approached her and asked his bizarre question.

"He shouted 'excuse me, are there any baby changing facilities around here'," said Mrs Goodwin.

"I just replied 'what - I very much doubt it'. He was very polite."

She said the nappy was made of plastic and made a rustling noise as he ran passed.

She added: "I didn't feel threatened. The area was well-lit and close to home, and I had the dog with me. I had heard about this man before, so when I saw him stop I thought 'oh, gosh, it's that nappy fella.

"We had just come back from holiday in France and it was my first walk out. What a welcome back. It's idiotic."

Stockton Police Inspector Ian Garrett said nobody had been attacked by the man, but his antics were bizarre and worrying.

"There have been several reports of him being seen in Eaglescliffe dressed in a nappy and we are keen to trace him and speak to him," said Insp Garrett.

This is not the first time Cleveland Police have been searching for a man running around in a nappy.

Earlier this year, a number of people, including children, reported being approached by a man wearing nothing but a nappy in Ropner Park, Stockton.

After appeals in the media, a young man, in his late teens, went to police and admitted it was him. He was cautioned.

The latest incidents in Eaglescliffe are not believed to be connected.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on (01642) 302810.