THIS is the face of the man wanted for the rape of a woman as she walked through a city park.

Detectives have released the e-fit exactly one week after the 26-year-old was attacked during the early hours of the morning.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the victim was walking home through Palmerston Park in Southampton after a night out when the attack took place.

Immediately before, the rapist was known to have been in the company of another man and the victim told police she heard the pair talking with eastern European accents. However, only one of the men was involved in the assault.

When the ordeal was over the woman banged on the door of the Angel pub in nearby Palmerston Road to raise the alarm.

At that time a man was passing the doorway and officers are keen to speak to him.

Detectives in the city's major crime department have now taken on the investigation and have released new details in the hope of finding the man responsible.

They are particularly keen to trace up to four people who were sitting on benches in the centre of the park.

Officers are also trying to locate the victim's beige jacket, which contained a mobile phone and a pink purse with a picture of a cat inside.

The rape is the second in just two months in the park, which runs alongside Above Bar Street.

A 19-year-old woman was raped on May 5, although the two incidents are not being linked.

Worrying attack' Det Insp Nigel Niven said: "This is a worrying attack on a young woman who was making her way home after a night out.

"I would urge people to think carefully about how they are going to get home after a night out.

"If you have to walk home make sure you walk in well-lit areas. Poorly-lit areas, including the city parks, make you more vulnerable."

Anyone with any information about the attack, which happened between 2am and 3.10am, or who may have found the missing property, is urged to call police on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.