Police are urging people to come forward with information following a rape in Colchester and have released an efit image of a man they want to trace in connection with the incident.

The victim, a woman in her 20s, was hit over the head and sexually assaulted by a man as she walked along Layer Road between 3.07am and 3.30am on Sunday, October 1.

The man pictured in the efit is described as white, aged between 22 and 30, with fair hair which had a wave to it. He was wearing navy blue jogging bottoms and a navy blue coat.

A witness has told police they saw him around 4am in the area of Mareth Road and Glebe Road.

Officers also want to trace another man and a vehicle which was seen in the Layer Road area around 3.30am.

The man has been described as white with a beard and wearing a navy blue hooded top, with the hood done up tight around his face.

The vehicle has been described as a dark blue transit-size van and did not have its lights on as it drove from the direction of Sainsbury’s towards Layer Road. It then turned its lights on after being prompted by a pedestrian.

Detective Constable Kelly Blackwell, from the north adult sexual assault investigation team, said: “This was a horrible attack in a public place.

“Our investigation is progressing well but I need to trace both men and the driver of the van as they may have key information about what happened.

“If you recognise either of these men or the van, or if you were in the Layer Road area at the time, please come forward.

“The information you have, no matter how small you may feel it is, could be vital to finding the person who did this.”

Contact Dc Blackwell at Chelmsford ASAIT on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with any information.