Detectives were today hunting a sex attacker who tried to rape a young woman in a crime-infested Worthing park.

The victim was walking near Homefield Park, Worthing, when the man emerged from the park entrance in Homefield Road.

He tried to steal her handbag, then led her into the park where a serious sexual offence took place.

Detectives are treating the attack as attempted rape and are appealing for anybody in the Homefield Road area who saw or heard anything suspicious to get in contact.

The attack happened at about 10.45pm on Wednesday December 12.

The offender was white, 45 to 50 years old and well-built. He had stubby hands with fat fingers and bitten nails.

He wore a plain black hat, a black silky jacket with elasticated cuffs, faded blue jeans and tatty trainers.

Detective Sergeant Ray Scales said "This is a serious offence and we are keen to trace anyone who was in the area at the time. We would urge anyone with any information to contact us as soon as possible".

Residents living near Homefield Park have become increasingly concerned about the level of crime since the borough council installed a skateboard park at a cost of £100,000.

The area has recently been plagued by graffiti, drug-dealing, assaults, arson attacks and late-night noise and disturbance.

The council has already installed a security fence around the skateboard area and cut back bushes where drug-dealing was taking place. Now councillors are being asked to install lighting.

Mr Scales said: "The main problems seem to be with youths and graffiti, but there have been other serious incidents in and around the park area.

"There is no particular pattern, but vagrants do sleep in the park because there is nowhere else for them to go and it is very difficult keeping an eye on these people."

Mel Stevens, the borough council's community safety officer, said some people were blaming the skatepark for the problems but it was not necessarily the catalyst for many of the incidents.