Several motorists on the A12 have reported seeing a “distressed” woman running along a field near Blythburgh.

Police are now asking for help to trace her as they are “very concerned” for her welfare.

The first sighting of the woman, who was described as partially clothed, was at 1.50am this morning.

A man said he had been driving along the southbound carriageway at Blythburgh ten minutes earlier and had seen the woman in “a distressed state”.

Since then police have received three similar calls about the woman.

They took the first caller back to the scene to identify it and have searched the area with officers and a dog but the woman has not been found.

Police are continuing the search for the woman and any sign of discarded clothing. They are also carrying out other enquiries in order to ensure the woman is safe and well.

Operational co-ordinator Inspector Ant Bridgland said: “There is a possibility that this woman was in distress which is why we are keen to find her and establish the circumstances surrounding this morning’s sightings.

“We want people to contact us with any further sightings of her, but also appeal for the woman herself to contact us.”

Due to the time of night, police have no detailed description of the woman or the clothing she was wearing, except that she was white and partially-clothed.

The woman or anyone who knows of her whereabouts is urged to contact Suffolk Police on 101, quoting CAD 31.