Police have warned women in Cambridge to be vigilant when out at night, suggesting that six sexual assaults in the last four months may be linked to one ‘sex attacker’.

The attacks, which took place in Silver Street, Adams Road, Sidgwick Avenue and Granchester Meadows are said to bear “striking similarities”.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire police said that in each of these incidents women had been “grabbed” as they walked past and sexually assaulted. The attacks, some of which were on students, all ended as the attacker ran off “when victims begin struggling or screaming”.

This comes in the wake of a few significant instances of late-night violence in town, prompting many colleges to issue warnings to students to be on their guard when out at night.

Experts are trying to build a profile of the attacker; he is thought to be white, around 6 foot, with short dark hair and stubble aged between 20 and 30.

The police have said they will be “increasing patrols” and have spoken to officials at Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin Universities urging them to warn female students to be particularly cautious.