A manhunt was underway last night to trace a sex attacker who tried to rape a woman near a busy seafront.

The 49-year-old married victim was pounced on as she tried to run away from her attacker while out walking alone in Eastbourne.

When she fell to the ground and hit her head, he then tried to pull her up and attempted to rape her at about 7pm on Friday. However, he fled after being disturbed by a couple.

The attempted rape happened close to where 35-year-old mother Jennifer Kiely was found raped, stabbed 16 times and burnt in a shelter on January 22.

Despite the arrests of two men who were later bailed, plus a £10,000 reward and a Crimewatch appeal, no one has been charged with her killing.

Police yesterday said they would be reviewing some of the inquiries made in her case but ruled out a direct link to Friday's attack.

Detective Inspector Paul Phelps, of Eastbourne CID and leading Operation Quill, told The Argus: "The victim has been left very shaken by the ordeal.

"It's unusual, particularly for that time of day when it was still light and there would have been lots of people still out running or walking their dogs."

The victim, who lives in Eastbourne, is undergoing specialist counselling as police last night made an urgent appeal for public help.

Officers revealed the woman was walking west along Western Parade, Eastbourne, when she noticed a man standing in a thatched-roof shelter.

He looked at her and smiled as she walked past him and then followed her as she continued walking. At this point she saw a couple, a black male and white female, in another of the thatched shelters.

The victim also recollects seeing a male jogger, described as Arabic or Turkish origin, run past her.

Police said the victim then branched right towards a twitten known as Crow's Nest Walk, which runs between Western Parade and King Edward Parade, near the five-star Grand Hotel on the western end of the seafront.

However, she noticed he was still following her and as she left the public area she started to run. The attacker chased after her and caught up with her before pulling her to the ground, causing her to hit her head.

As he tried to rape her he was disturbed by a couple who walked into the twitten and he fled north. The victim went over to the couple and the alarm was raised.

Mr Phelps said: "We are anxious to hear from anyone who may have seen this man either before or after this horrific incident.

"We are particularly keen to hear from the couple who were in the shelter and also the jogger who ran past the victim and her attacker.

"We have a very accurate description of the offender from the victim and we are sure someone must have seen him.

"We would urge people to come forward and call police if they think they have any information, no matter how small."

Asked whether the incident was linked to the Jennifer Kiely rape and killing, Mr Phelps said: "No it's not. Clearly we will need to review lines of inquiry pursued by Operation Kittiwake as there will be some overlap.

"The only similarity between this and the Jennifer Kiely incident is that they were both sexual offences. But that's where the similarity ends."

The attacker is described as white, about 5ft 10in, of slight build and with a thin, oval-shaped face, distinctive pale green eyes and short, fine hair swept back.

He smelt of stale cigarettes and alcohol and was wearing charcoal grey trousers with white flecks and a white round-neck top with long sleeves and a distinctive swirly pattern on the front.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Operation Quill incident room at Eastbourne on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers free and in confidence on 0800 555111.

Detectives are hunting a rapist who lured a young woman into his flat and then attacked her.

The victim was walking through Eastbourne train station when a casual acquaintance approached her and struck up conversation.

The man invited her back to his flat, telling her he was thinking of moving out and suggesting she take a look at it.

But while she was inside the property, believed to be in Enys Road, Eastbourne, she was raped.

Only after the attack did she manage to flag down a passing motorist in Upperton Road and raise the alarm.

Sussex Police said the attack happened between 5.30pm and 6.15pm on Tuesday. The victim is now being given counselling and being comforted by friends and family.

Police said the woman was entirely innocent and went to his home after he suggested it as a place for her to live.

Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched to track the offender who is described as 35 to 45, 6ft and balding.

Anyone with information should contact Eastbourne CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.