Volunteers are being recruited to help police a Basildon park after a spate of violent attacks.

Essex Police revealed they are enlisting a group of community volunteers to patrol Northlands Park alongside their own officers.

It comes after the park, in Felmores, Pitsea, has seen a number of serious crimes in recent months, including the alleged rape of a woman on June 13 at 8am.

In April, a teenage girl was led away from the swings by a man and sexually assaulted.

Sharon Nunn, 56, suffered a black eye and bruises on her head and neck after she was pushed to the floor in the brutal attack in the park last month.

Inspector Neil Carman said his neighbourhood policing team were committed to keeping the park safe.

He said: “We are looking at getting community volunteers to patrol the park and leaflets have been sent out.

“We have got some in Billericay, but not in Pitsea.

“We are looking to promote visibility, so they will be wearing fluorescent jackets and they will be the eyes and the ears – almost like witnesses.

“They will be to disrupt and disturb.”

He added officers have regularly patrolled the area, engaged with the running club, Parkrun, and spoken with the Northlands Park cafe over recent weeks.

Imelda Clancy, councillor for Pitsea North West, said: “I am really, really pleased about this.

I think it’s an excellent idea.

“Anything that acts as a deterrent is effective.

“I do think it will work but whether they will move to another location is a different matter.

“Once it’s out in the public domain that the police are doing this, I think it could stop as these type of people just want an easy target.

“Northlands Park is such a lovely location and they are ruining people’s lives.

“I would certainly get involved – I would put my money where my mouth is.”

Essex Police are now looking into ways of how people can sign up to the scheme and will release details as soon as possible.