Women are being urged to take extra care following a spate of attacks over recent weeks.

Chairman of the Women's Resource Centre Penny Dill said incidents involving violence were on the increase in general, but a number of women had been targetted during the summer.

She spoke out following the alleged serious sexual assault of a 19-year-old by two men in the early hours of Wednesday.

Only a fortnight ago a woman in Southampton awoke in her home to find a man sexually assaulting her and threatening to rape her. She received injuries to her face and head when he attacked her with a telephone as she tried to call for help. He fled the scene and is still on the loose.

Ms. Dill said: "I think violence is on the increase so everyone should be more aware.

"I think a lot of women think it won't happen to them and everyone seems to be oblivious to it until they are directly affected.

"Women should take extra care and try not to put themselves in any kind of jeopardy. We always tend to warn people during the summer because more people are walking and running at night and are more out and about.

"We just ask them to be very aware of the dangers.'' Last week a woman received bad head and face injuries after being dragged to the ground by a man who stole her bag as she walked along the railway trail.

There have been a number of incidents where women have been approached as they rode their motorcycles at night.

One was actually pulled off her bike in the early hours of one morning by an attacker who tried to grab her handbag. She needed hospital treatment.

On Sunday this week, a 27-year-old Sandys woman was put through a harrowing ordeal when a man tried to rob her as she rode home.

He forced her to take him to her house in Daiseyfield Drive because he wanted cash. However, once there, he fled the scene after being disturbed by a house guest.

Ms Dill said, where possible, women should not go out alone at night, and should not wear personal stereos in the street because it hampers their hearing.

She also suggested people hide all belongings out of view when in their cars or on bikes, and said it was a good idea for women to carry cell phones.

She added: "If a woman is walking alone and a man is approaching, she should always look him in the eye. If women look away and act little nervous, it gives the impression they are vulnerable.

"Also if people have to travel regularly at night, they should try to alter their routes and change their patterns.'' A Police spokeswoman agreed last night that women should try to take as many precautions as possible to avoid danger.