A “grunting” man in a gimp suit has been terrifying villagers by jumping out at them and touching his groin.

A police helicopter and sniffer dogs were deployed after the man charged at one victim “in a full black rubbery suit" while she walked through Claverham, Somerset, on Thursday night.

The woman, aged in her 20s, pushed the latex-clad aggressor and screamed at him before he fled.

She said she was "hugely affected" by the incident.

She told the BBC: "He kept coming towards me and was touching his groin, grunting and breathing heavy.

"As I tried to take a step back he was right in front of my face and he put his leg forward. I was just trying to assess the situation in my head quickly.

"Everything was running through my head. I thought: 'This is it, I'm going to get attacked'. Every time I close my eyes I just see that face."

Police were unable to locate the man despite an extensive search.

It comes amid a series of similar reports in the area.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: "We're aware of concerns relating to a man acting suspiciously in the Claverham/Yatton area.

"While we're keeping an open mind about the motive for these incidents, it's clear the individual responsible is deliberately attempting to cause alarm to the men and women he's approaching.

"While no-one has been hurt during the incidents, we fully appreciate the distress these actions have caused victims."