SOUTHAMPTON women are calling for action to be taken after a 26-year-old was raped in a city park.

Women in Southampton said they do not feel safe enough to walk through parks across the city and are calling for increased police patrols and better lighting.

This comes after a woman was raped as she walked through Hoglands Park on Monday evening.

READ: Police launch rape probe after woman attacked at city centre park

Hampshire Police said the woman was walking through the park alone between 6pm and 7.30pm when a man described as Asian or black, in his late 30s and of a skinny build approached her and raped her near the park's skate ramps.

But Southampton women are now calling for action to be taken as soon as possible.

Michaela Hodson, 48, retail assistant, lives near the park and said: "This has been happening too often here.

Now it has happened again and enough is enough. We need more police officers and more lighting in the park.

There are a lot of students in this area and they need to feel safe."

Marina Ferreira, 20, fashion promotion student at Southampton Solent University, said: "Students call this park the rape park because of the too many incidents that happened here.None of the parks in the city is safe and we have the right to walk through the parks and feel safe."

Hampshire Police said officers will try to be as visible as possible and are urging residents not to walk through parks on their own at night.

Chief Inspector Beth Pirie said: "The parks in Southampton are spaces that are regularly used by city residents and visitors and we want people to feel safe using these areas.

"It is always a shock to the community when something like this happens and we will be as visible as possible to make people feel safer.

"We would always advise those walking alone anywhere in the city to stick to busy, well-lit areas and to try and avoid taking short cuts."

Police cordoned off the park and its four entrances for most of Monday morning while officers scoured the area near the skate ramps.

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: "We will continue to work with the police to ensure that Southampton remains a safe place to live, work and visit.

"It is important that anyone using public spaces in and around the city remains vigilant and follows police advice.

"It is of equal importance that people are able to move around the city without their safety being at risk.”

Police are also appealing for help to find the man, who was wearing a dark grey beanie hat, black coat, dark jeans.

Officers say he was around 5ft8in tall and spoke with a "foreign accent".

Anyone with information is urged to call 101 and quote 44180084644.