SIX women who may have been victims of the Billinge Wood rapist have contacted police following a national television appeal.

Police were today investigating a string of sex attacks which could have been carried out by the same man who savagely assaulted a young woman three years ago.

Detectives received around 200 calls after the case was featured on BBC 1's Crimewatch - Still Unsolved last night.

Det Chief Inspector Neil Smith said: "Around six women contacted us to say they had suffered similar attacks.

"Not all of the women were raped and they were both local and national calls. We will be investigating each call to see if we can establish a link to this man." A special incident room was set up at police headquarters and 15 officers dealt with the 200 calls in the space of four hours.

DCI Neil Smith paid tribute to the 25-year-old victim who took the brave decision to be interviewed about her horrendous ordeal. He said: "We are really delighted with the huge response which has given us numerous new lines of inquiry. I am sure we got such a good response because this young women took the difficult decision to be interviewed about the rape.

"We got a lot of really good information as a direct result of the interview and the reconstruction." He added: "This case is three years old but as far as we are concerned it has never been closed and never will be. This is a dangerous man who could strike again at any time and he needs to be caught."

Police are still trying to trace the owner of a maroon coloured scooter parked close to where the women was attacked. They believe the owner of the scooter could hold the key to the investigation. Anyone with information about the attack should contact police on 01254 51212.

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