Officers seal off steps in Portswood Road in Southampton after attempted rape

Officers have taped off a set of steps that leads to an industrial estate in the Portswood area of the city.

It comes after an attempted rape on a teenage woman in the early hours of yesterday morning.

A man who came to the woman's aid was then robbed by her attacker.

Police were seen knocking on doors and talking to pedestrians near the cordoned off area on Portswood Road.

Officers at the scene remained tight-lipped about the nature of the incident.

Meanwhile shopkeepers nearby have reacted with shock to news of the attack on their doorstep.

Shelley Williamson, co-owner of nearby Arc Electronics, said violent incidents were uncommon in the area.

The shop was preparing its CCTV system to allow police to view the recordings.

She told the Daily Echo: "I suppose that's the sort of place you would expect somebody to do that because it's secluded.

"We have been here since 1980 and I can't remember anything like that happening before.

"I would have been fast asleep at the time and the first time I was aware of it was this morning when the police asked for the CCTV."

A shopkeeper on Portswood Road, who declined to be named, said: "It's quite shocking and it's quite scary.

"I've never heard of that happening before near here but it's shocking."

An employee at a different shop said: "I saw the forensics van and I was fearing the worst.

"It never happens around here but it's happening a lot more all over.

"Knowing the area really well it's more common now."

It happened between the junctions of Portswood Road with Bowden Lane and Brickfield Road between midnight and 4am.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Hampshire Constabulary on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.