POLICE will be taking no further action after a sex attack near Asda in Southampton.

In December, Hampshire police launched a hunt for a sex attacker who struck in Southampton city centre in the early hours.

Police will be taking no further action with the incident, which occurred on December 16, due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

The green area between Asda and the Portland Terrace carpark was cordoned off, with officers seen scouring hedges and bushes.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: “We were called at 6.22am on December 16, 2018 to a report of a rape of a 20-year-old woman.

“The incident was reported to have happened between 4am and 6.30am near Portland Terrace, in the vicinity of the grassy area between Asda and the NCP car park.

“We immediately launched an investigation and gathered all the evidence available to us.

“No suspects have ever been identified. No further action will be taken at this time due to insufficient evidence that a criminal offence has taken place.

“This incident was treated incredibly seriously and all avenues to ascertain exactly what happened to the woman were explored.”