A cyclist struck a woman on the head and tried to take off her clothes in an attempted sex attack on Hackney Marshes yesterday.

Detectives are linking the incident to one which happened shortly before at 10.15am when a woman was chased as she was out jogging near the red bridge close by.

The suspect did not catch the victim and he was scared off when she shouted loudly to alert people nearby.

Soon after the man attacked the second woman near the riding centre, but she managed to escape to a nearby house and called the police.

In both incidents the suspect was described as a tall black man, aged in his 30s who was riding a bike.

Det Sgt Jeremy McDermott, from the Met’s sexual offences, exploitation and child abuse command, who is leading the investigation, said: “Both incidents are being treated as linked due to the timing and location of the offences and as the suspect description in both incidents is similar.

“We are appealing for any witnesses, or anyone who recognises the description of the suspect, to call us.

“Any information they have could be of use to our investigation.”

Call 020 8217 7408 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.