DETECTIVES hunting the Burnley rapist believe he may have struck again after a 20-year-old became the latest woman to be attacked in the Padiham Road area of town.

The latest victim had just got off a bus from Whalley and was walking along Lakeland Way at about 10.35pm on Saturday when she was grabbed around the body by a man.

He told her he had a knife, threatened her with violence and told her to be quiet.

The girl struck out at him and managed to escape. She ran off screaming at the top of her voice and people from a nearby garden barbecue went to help her.

They also searched the area looking for the attacker but he had vanished.

Detectives believe the motive for the attack may have been sexual and are looking into the possibility that it is linked to the rape and other attacks in the Padiham Road area of the town.

A teenager was raped in an alleyway near to the Manor Barn pub on April 24 and the following month a 39-year-old woman, fought off a man as she walked on Padiham Road near to Anglesey Avenue and a 22-year-old woman fought off an attacker in the same area.

In June, a woman in her 50s was attacked as she left a house in Arkwright Street which runs parallel to Padiham Road behind the Tim Bobbin pub.

Det Sgt Tony Ronan said: "At this stage we are looking at the possibility of links to previous attacks in the same area.''

The young woman was not hurt but is said to have been badly shocked by the incident.

Her attacker is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall with short dark hair. Despite the hot weather he was wearing a blue fleece jacket and dark trousers.

Police want witnesses to come forward especially a couple who were in a black car which travelled down Lakeland Way and then turned around and drove back.

The driver was a woman with blonde wavy hair. A man in the passenger seat was seen smoking and with his arm out of the window.

Two couples in their thirties were also seen walking along the road at the time.

They may have seen the attacker and are asked to contact the police whether they believe they have evidence or not.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 425001.

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