A Teenage knifeman is stalking the streets, attacking young women at random.

The maniac has struck seven times in seven weeks, each attack increasing in violence.

Police launched a major hunt today, fearing he could kill next time.

Detective Inspector Tim Nunn, heading Operation Single, said: "I do not want to raise the fear of crime but we have to bring to women's attention that we are concerned."

All the attacks happened in the Hastings and St Leonards areas.

In the most recent, on Monday, a 57-year-old woman was grabbed from behind and stabbed between the ribs as she walked to her car.

The knife punctured one of her lungs and she spent two days in hospital.

Mr Nunn said: "I am worried about the way these attacks appear to be escalating. They are increasing in their ferocity."

The attacker preys on lone women, mostly in their teens and early 20s.

He creeps up behind them and hits or stabs them, then runs away.

The first assault took place on January 11 in Laton Road, Hastings.

A 23-year-old woman was beaten over the head.

Later on the same day in The Woodlands a 16-year-old girl was punched in the back of the head by a man wearing a balaclava.

A week later, police received the first report of the attacker using a knife.

A girl of 14 was slashed on the back of her legs while walking up steps in Braybrooke Road on January 19. Her wounds required stitches.

She said a photofit put together by the previous victims bore a strong resemblance to the man whose face she glimpsed.

Mr Nunn said: "She is still struggling to come to terms with what has happened. She was just minding her own business, walking up steps.

"That was the first indication that we had someone here with no motive for doing this. "

The man struck again at midnight on January 21, speaking to his 19-year-old victim before hitting her in Clinton Crescent, St Leonards.

On January 23 he launched his first daylight assault, rugby-tackling a 16-year-old girl and then punching her as she walked in White Rock, Hastings, at 10.25am.

Police say there was a lull before the attacks began again with increased violence.

On February 17, at 6.50pm, in Cockcrow Wood, St Leonards, an 18-year-old woman was slashed across the thigh, leaving a 15cm wound.

Monday's assault on the 57-year-old, the most serious to date, took place at 7.15pm in Lower Park Road. It prompted police to call a Press conference.

Officers said the man may have had ginger hair and spoke with a local accent.

Mr Nunn said there did not appear to be a sexual or robbery motive and the man had chosen his victims at random.

He said: "I'm sure someone must know him. I'm talking about his parents or health care workers. They may have become concerned about his mental health."

Anyone with information about the attacker should contact the Operation Single incident room on 0845 6070999.