THEY are the jewels in Southampton's crown.

Look at a map and what stands out are the five historic parks in the heart of the city centre.

The parks - Watts, East, Palmerston, Houndwell and Hoglands - are prized as a green oasis away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Yet women are now being told not to walk alone through them after a daylight sex attack on a teenager.

Detectives issued the warning as they stepped up the hunt to find the man who grabbed the 19-year-old as she walked home from a city centre nightclub through Palmerston Park. It is not the first time that safety fears have been raised over the parks.

Two and a half years ago council and police chiefs appealed for people to keep out after more than 100 attacks including a rape, assaults and muggings in the space of ten months.

Detective Inspector Linda Howard,who is leading the current investigation, said: "We do not want to alarm people but we would urge women not to make themselves vulnerable and not to walk alone through the parks during the night time or early hours when it is quiet.

See today's Daily Echo for the full story.

"We want to stress that we are doing everything we can, including vast inquiries in the area and thorough checks of CCTV, to catch this person responsible."

However the police warning has drawn criticism.

Chairman of Southampton Commons and Parks Protection Society and vice chairman of City of Southampton Society, Arthur Jeffery, said: "To say that women should not walk through the parks alone is a bold statement and it is a tragedy if the police believe it.

"Of course a sex attack is terrible but this is a rare incident. The bushes are cut back and there is good lighting in the park. It would be a great shame if young women could not enjoy the beautiful greenery we get in the city.

"This reaction is political correctness gone mad."

Councillor for the city centre Bargate ward, Sarah Bogle, echoed those sentiments and said: "I think it is sensible advice for men and women not to walk through the park at night.

"But as someone who regularly walks through the park during the day I would say it would be a shame if young women felt they could no longer do this."

Police have revealed the victim of the latest attack had spent the night at the Soul Cellar in West Marlands Road, close to the Civic Centre, and was walking through Palmerston Park when she was grabbed.

About half way across the park the attacker pulled her to the ground and seriously sexually assaulted her. The ordeal only stopped when a passer-by, who was walking to a shop, heard her screams and intervened. The attacker ran off. A team of 20 detectives are working on the investigation being run by Shirley CID.

Officers are particularly keen to speak to anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in the area between 5.30am and 6.30am on Monday. They have said it is too early to say whether the attack, which happened around 6am on Bank Holiday Monday, is being linked to previous sex attacks in the area and neighbouring parks.

The man is known to have run off in the direction of Above Bar Street while the girl, a student in the city, was left suffering shock and minor injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Operation Hartland team at Shirley CID on 0845 045 4545 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.