POLICE officers have renewed an appeal for any witnesses to two sexual assaults to come forward.

Two women were assaulted in Laindon on the evening of February 21 within 20 minutes of each other.

The first assault occurred shortly before 8pm after a 23-year-old woman was approached by a man in an alleyway near Spire Road.

He tried to talk to her, grabbing her by the hair and punching her in the stomach, before running away when two men came to her aid.

Later, at 8.15pm, a 16-year-old girl was approached on Hatterill, near a bus stop close to the train station, by a man who tried to talk to her.

He then tried to drag her into bushes nearby before another two young men intervened and the attacker ran off.

Det Chf Insp Scott Cannon, head of the Sexual Offences Investigation Team, said: "We appealed earlier this week for the men who helped our victims to come forward and we are extremely grateful for their support in doing so.

“We are now keen to speak to anyone else who may have information or have seen anything suspicious in the times before and after these attacks.

“There may be other victims who might not have wanted to come forward and report what had happened to them.

“I would urge them to make contact with our officers so we can help and support them.

“The suspect is described as a white man, 5ft 6in to 5ft 9in tall, in his thirties, wearing dark clothing.

“He smelt of beer and spoke with a foreign accent.”

A 39-year-old man from Basildon was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault on Wednesday, February 24.

He has been bailed pending further police enquiries until Wednesday, March 11.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Essex Police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.