THE hunt for a serial rapist has taken a disturbing new twist after it was revealed three further possible victims have been found.

Detectives in Hampshire relaunched the search for the attacker, who targeted a 14-year-old Southampton girl as she walked alone across a sports pitch in November 1994.

He is known to have struck again twice in the county, in 1970 and 1990. In the latter case he stabbed his victim in the leg before sexually assaulting her.

Seventy-nine people have come forward following the appeal, including two women who believe they were victims of the predator.

One of the women claims to have been targeted in 1987. The second told police she was also attacked in the 1980s.

Specialist officers are now working alongside the women and offering support as well as obtaining information about their claims, which will now be investigated.

So far 44 names of potential suspects have been handed to police, 15 of whom have since been ruled out. Others have been approached and asked to supply police with their DNA.

Detectives also revealed that officers in Nottinghamshire have approached Hampshire police, keen to compare the DNA profile of the Hampshire attacker against a partial sample seized after a 13-year-old girl was raped at knifepoint four years ago.

Det Chief Insp Rachel Farrell, heading the investigation known as Operation Alveston, said she was delighted with the response - which included several key calls from Daily Echo readers - and she was determined the rapist would be caught.

She said: "Information is still trickling in. The more names we have the more chance we have of catching the person responsible.

"We have spoken with several women who rang in reporting they also may have been attacked by this man, and we have identified two possible further separate victims who believe they may have been attacked in Portsmouth."

She said it was "too early to speculate" whether the Hampshire attacks are connected with the attack on the 13-year-old being investigated by Nottinghamshire police.

Det Chief Insp Farrell, who has a team of ten officers on the inquiry, added: "Victims and families are being kept updated and are really grateful for the public support.

"Obviously they are waiting anxiously, hoping somebody has given us the right name and hoping their attacker is going to be finally caught.

"I want to urge anyone out there still hesitating about giving us a name or reporting a crime, please get in touch.

"We still want to hear from you. We have to catch this man."