A woman in her 80s punched a man in the face after he tried to grab her in Whitstable this morning.

The attack happened in an alleyway between Bellevue Road and Invicta Road at 7.20am after which the man fled towards the Crab and Winkle Way cycle path.

It follows seven other incidents - including indecent exposure and sex assaults - committed over the last eight months in the town.

Police have questioned and bailed a 46-year-old man for the earlier incidents.

They say the latest attack happened as the pensioner was walking her dog. A man walked up to her and grabbed her before she fought him off and punched him in the mouth.

Det Ch Insp Paul Fotheringham said: "It appears the suspect has picked on this wrong person in this instance and she was able to bravely fight him off."

The suspect was said to be dressed in black with a hoody tied up to hide his mouth and nose.

It is thought he may have grey hair. After the incident he left the alleyway in the direction of the Crab and Winkle Way.

Det Ch Insp Fotheringham added: "I would like to hear from anyone who has information in relation to this incident.

"Do you know anyone who may have been out when the assault occurred and returned home with a facial injury? If anyone can help with this investigation, please call Kent Police."

The first three alleged offences took place on the evening of January 27 - within 45 minutes of each other.

In the first, between 6.25pm and 6.45pm, a man was seen walking down Grimshill Road near the junction with Gosselin Street.

He was seen indecently exposing himself by two girls - who turned and walked in the opposite direction.

But the man followed - grabbing one of the girls by the neck from behind, pushing her into a hedge and punching her in the head.

She had a minor injury, but did not need hospital treatment.

Then, at 6pm, a woman reported a man touching her inappropriately over her clothing as she walked with her daughter along the Crab and Winkle Line.

Finally, a 42-year-old woman reported being pushed off her bike in Stream Walk, Whitstable, between 6.30pm and 6.35pm, causing bruisng to her arm and shoulder.

Then, on Saturday, June 14, a 26-year-old woman was walking along the Crab and Winkle Line when a man walked up to her and punched her in the face.

She fell back into some bushes and the suspect continued to hit her, before running off through a graveyard.

Then on Tuesday, Augsut 12, police were told of three more alleged attacks.

At 1.40pm, an 88-year-old woman was approached from behind when she was walking through an alleyway that joins Cromwell and Acton Roads.

She claimed she was touched inappropriately, with the man also trying to take her handbag. He then ran off.

Later, at 3.15pm, a woman was cycling along the Crab and Winkle Line, opposite the cemetery, when a man is said to have grabbed her inappropriately from behind.

Just half-an-hour later a woman reported a similar attack along the Crab and Winkle Way towards a supermarket.

An efit has been released of the suspect - described as a white man, aged 40 to 50, stocky and with a shaven head.

He is believed to have been wearing a dark or grey hooded top and has a tribal or Celtic-style tattoo around the base of the right hand thumb.

Anyone with information can call Kent Police on 101 quoting reference 14*341 or Kent CrimeStoppers, free and in confidence, on 0800 555111.