A serial sex attacker who has been stalking Sussex streets for six years may have struck more than 30 times.

Detectives have already publicly linked 14 attacks, including one rape, to the man being hunted in an operation codenamed Bobcat.

Senior officers have now confirmed a further six attacks are being classified as "possibles" and a further 12 as "maybes" by the squad involved in one of the biggest manhunts launched by Sussex Police.

The latest possible victim is a 31-year-old woman who was raped in Chichester on Thursday night.

She was knocked unconscious when she fell over after being grabbed from behind.

Forensic samples have been sent to be compared with DNA evidence police have collected from previous attacks.

It will be several weeks before the results are known.

The man being hunted has carried out most of his attacks on Thursday nights in Chichester and Bognor.

Many victims have said he smelled of paraffin, diesel or petrol and the latest victim was able to tell detectives she noticed the man had a "funny smell".

Detective Inspector Neil Fellingham said the 30-plus attacks on the Bobcat files would be a worse-case scenario.

He said: "The way in which we link offences is very different to the way in which the public and the media might think.

"Until such time as they are linked by the profiles we are using and DNA evidence, they must remain as 'possibles'."

Det Insp Fellingham has urged women in the two areas to take extreme care when they go out at night.

He said: "We remain totally committed to catching this man before he can carry out any further attacks."

A £20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man, who has been called the Thursday night rapist.

Police have issued efit pictures of the suspect with and without a woollen hat.