TWO women are recovering after being the victims of terrifying attacks in separate incidents in Minehead.

Both happened in the early hours of Sunday morning and one of the women - a 22-year-old - suffered a serious sexual assault.

Police said she was attacked at about 1.30am as she was sitting on a wall near the town's Co-Op supermarket car park.

Shortly before, a 24-year-old woman was physically assaulted as she walked along The Parade towards the town centre from the area of Mambo's on the seafront.

She was not seriously injured and her attacker ran off after she is believed to have fought back.

A spokesman for the Avon and Somerset force told the Free Press that neither women had required hospital treatment for their injuries.

Both are understood to be local.

Detectives launched a full-scale investigation, mounted house-to-house enquiries and cordoned off an area around the Co-Op on Sunday.

And they have issued a description of a man they are keen to speak to in connection with both incidents.

He is said to be aged between 20 and 30, with a tanned complexion, approximately 5ft 7ins to 5ft 10ins tall and wearing a black T-shirt and dark trousers.

They are also appealing for anyone in the area of the attacks at the time or with information on either incident to contact them.

A 21-year-old man who was helping police with their enquiries has been released on police bail.

Police moved swiftly to allay people's safety fears by saying incidents of this nature were rare in Minehead.

But they urged people to follow a series of basic precautions when planning a night out.

Minehead Mayor Cllr Simon Stokes said he had been assured by police chiefs that there would be a heightened police presence in the town while the hunt for the culprit continued.

"As a community, everyone is very shocked by this and our thoughts go out to the two women involved - it must have been terrifying," he said.

"I have been told there will be more officers on the streets at night and I am pleased to hear that the police are making every effort to catch whoever is responsible.

"Whilst there is huge concern that this has happened in our town, people need to know that Minehead can still be regarded as a safe place and incidents like this are rare, compared to the national picture.

"However, we need to do our utmost to ensure that everyone walking about the town is safe."

Police have issued the following advice in the wake of the attacks:

l Don't walk alone at night - book a cab or stay with a friend.

l Stay alert to your surroundings - don't chat on your mobile phone or listen to an MP3.

l Get and carry a personal attack alarm.

l Stick to well-lit, busy areas - don't take that dark shortcut.

l Tell someone where you're going and who you're with.

l Walk confidently and be wary of strangers trying to start a conversation.

l Have your car or house keys ready to hand.

l Report anything suspicious to police on 0845 456 7000.

Victims of attacks are being told to "scream, set off their personal alarm, make as much noise as they can, run to a busy place as soon as they can and call 999".

Anyone with information on the attacks should contact Bridgwater CID on 0845 456 7000 or the confidential Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.