A PARK has been branded too dangerous for women following a spate of sex attacks.

Councillors and self-defence experts have warned women to stay clear of Northlands Park, Pitsea, after a 26-year-old woman was raped while walking through the 60-acre site in daylight.

It is the latest attack in the park which has also seen a teenage girl sexually assaulted and a man mugged while on his mobility scooter in recent months – all attacks occuring during the day.

Imelda Clancy, Independence group councillor for Pitsea North West, said she will keep away from Northlands until arrests have been made or police step up their patrols.

She added: “Women should be able to leave their own homes and be safe.

“Something needs to be done to give them more protection.

A park should be a place any member of the public can enjoy.

“If there is a time of day when you’d expect to be safest it’s probably in the morning, but these attacks at Northlands are happening at all hours.”

Gavin Callaghan, leader of Basildon’s Labour group and ward councillor for Pitsea North West, added: “People need to realise Northlands Park is a real target for criminals and it’s not safe.

“People should not be walking through that park on their own. If you’re a woman, you need to be in groups of at least two or three.”

Following the latest attack, which happened at 8am on Saturday, Ripped Gym, on the Burnt Mills industrial estate, is planning to launch free selfdefence classes for women. The classes will teach women how to protect themselves, as well as giving them more confidence and highlighting possible dangers.

Martial arts and boxing trainer Chris Barnes, who will be leading the sessions, said: “A lot of people in the gym have been talking about the attacks at Northlands Park and I want to do something to help women feel safer.

“It’s not just walking though the park which is dangerous, these things can happen anywhere.

If you get a 15 or 16 stone man grab hold of a woman, there isn’t a great deal she can do.

“The classes give women a bit more confidence.

“They’re not all physical, it is also about re-assessing their awareness.

“It sounds horrible to say, but they shouldn’t be walking home on their own, or going somewhere at night which is unlit.”

Daytime terror for visitors to beauty spot

NORTHLANDS Park visitors have been the target of a number of serious crimes in recent months.

The incidents have all taken place during daylight hours.

During the latest attack, a 26-year-old woman was grabbed by a man and raped as she walked through the park at 8am on Saturday. Her attacker is white, in his thirties, stocky, with chubby cheeks and a fat nose.

He was about 5ft 5ins tall and had brown hair, shaved at the sides and longer on the top, which was slicked back.

Back in April, a teenage girl was led away from the swings by an older man and sexually assaulted.

The attack happened between 4pm and 6pm on Easter Sunday. The attacker, a white man in his twenties and 5ft 6ins tall, was wearing a grey tracksuit and black baseball cap.

A few weeks later a 79-year-old man was left fighting for his life after he was attacked by two men and robbed of more than £1,000 while riding through Northlands Park on his mobility scooter.

He suffered a bleed on the brain.

Northlands Park, on the Felmores estate, contains a fishing lake, multi-purpose sports court, children’s playground and skate park.