Naked man 'approaching women in park' sparks search

There have been four reports, two in recent days, of a naked man seen in the Purdown area of Bristol

A naked man has reportedly approached at least three women in a popular Bristol park, police have said.

A search is under way following the most recent report, in which a man in his 60s said he saw the suspect emerging naked from woods near St Johns Lane, Purdown, just after 17:00 BST on 21 October.

Police said the man, described as "older than 30" with dark hair and a stubbly beard had then run back into the woods after being spotted.

There have been three other reports of a naked man of a similar description approaching women in the same area in recent months.

A woman reported being approached by a man near Priory Hospital, which also sits in the same green space in Purdown and adjoins the Stoke Park Estate, at around 13:00 on 17 October.

In an online report filed the next day she described him as being in his forties or early fifties with short greying brown hair and a small beard, between 5ft 11 and 6ft 3ins tall and "skinny".

Two previous similar reports, made in July and September, were investigated by police but no suspect was found.

Avon and Somerset Police said they were aware of social media posts suggesting that other incidents which were not reported to them may have taken place and urged people to report offences as soon as they were able to.