Police have issued a safety warning after three attacks on lone women in Hampshire.

All the assaults have happened within the last three weeks.

Increased police patrols remain in place over in the area over the weekend, to continue to provide reassurance to the community.

Police are urging woman to continue with their daily lives and businesses but where possible take extra precautions and report any suspicious behaviour on 101.

The first assault took place at around 10.40pm on June 20 when a 20-year-old woman was walking along Southampton Road, opposite a block of flats on Ashurst Road, in Portsmouth.

She was approached from behind and assaulted. She received a chest injury, which was serious but not life-threatening.

In the second incident, a 45-year-old woman was approached by a man along the shoreline of Ports Creek in Hilsea (to the east of the footbridge which crosses from Peronne Road to the Highbury estate).

The man carried out an assault, resulting in the woman sustaining a stab wound to her chest.

The man ran off towards Hilsea Lines.

Police were called to the third incident shortly after 1pm on Friday to a report of an assault by a man on a woman who was walking in an alleyway between Colwell Road and Northern Road in Cosham.

The woman was released from hospital last night and is at home with her family.

A 30-year-old man was arrested on Friday and remains in police custody.

Police are aware of a number of rumours circulating about assaults in the area.

We would like to remind the public to avoid sharing inaccurate information on social media. Instead please call 101 if you have any information that you think may be relevant to the assaults.

Witnesses to any of the assaults or anyone with information are asked to call the Hampshire Major Investigation Team (HMIT) at Fratton Police Station on 101, quoting Operation Bedham.

Information can be given anonymously by phoning the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.