A serial rapist who targets elderly women could be from Brighton.

The man is wanted for more than 80 offences across south London and Surrey over a 12-year period, including four rapes and 27 indecent assaults.

Detectives leading the Metropolitan Police's largest rapist manhunt revealed they were now pursuing possible links he has to Brighton, after he mentioned the area during two attacks.

Detective Superintendent Simon Morgan said: "We need to be open-minded and exhaust all possible leads.

"Could he be from Brighton or have some connection to Brighton? We know he has favoured areas around south London but it was him who mentioned Brighton so there could be something in it."

DNA at some of the attack scenes was found to contain Native American, European and Sub-Saharan strands, a combination only found in the Caribbean.

DNA tests will now be carried out voluntarily on Met officers with proven Caribbean origins to compare profiles and help determine which island he or his family comes from.

A £20,000 reward is on offer.

The Met's Serious Crime Directorate has identified 84 offences committed against women aged between 68 and 93 which have strong DNA or methodical links to one man.

His first attack was in October 1992 but no more were reported until 1997 when a series of assaults occurred.

His most violent attack was in August 1999 when the 88-year-old victim was raped twice, suffered a perforated bowel and almost died.

The offences stopped again until October 13, 2003 A Met spokesman said: "The sort of areas he was targeting are close to the A23 and M23 so there is a fair degree of logic to him having some links with Brighton, which is not too far away."

Police also linked him to three burglaries in Croydon last summer.

Most of the attacks centred around Shirley in Croydon and Orpington in Kent but several have also taken place in Coulsdon, Warlingham, Catford, Dulwich and Sidcup.

The man is believed to be about 35 and black.

He enters the homes of elderly women in the early hours of the morning, often removing window frames using stolen tools, cutting electricity and telephone wires and disconnecting lightbulbs.

He wears a balaclava and an all-in-one black catsuit, which police now believe may be a motorcycle outfit.