A university is considering improving lighting along a campus footpath - after two young women were grabbed by a man in separate incidents.

Students say they no longer feel safe walking along Eliot footpath, which cuts through an area of open countryside at the University of Kent in Canterbury (UKC).

While the walkway itself is lit up, the vast surrounding area is plunged into darkness at night, which currently falls at about 4pm.

On November 28, a young woman was grabbed by a man as she walked along the path at about 11.15pm.

He took hold of her arm, but she managed to break free and ran away.

Just four days later, a 19-year-old UKC student was left "petrified" when she was followed by a man while out jogging near her home at nearby Hales Place.

The man approached her and grabbed her arm tightly, but she too managed to twist herself free and escape.

The Eliot footpath runs between Eliot College on the UKC campus, and Lyndhurst Close, a residential road just off the campus.

It is used by students to go from the university, to the city centre and private accommodation in areas such as Hales Place.

But some say they are now avoiding the area entirely.

Student Filipa Englefield said she previously felt safe walking home along the footpath.

"But in the night time now, I'd either walk the long way home, or not even walk home at all, just because of the amount of stories I've heard of people being approached by people," she said. "It's just not very safe.

"(The university) used to have the stewards on a night out and they would stand at the top and the bottom of the footpath, but where there's not even a night out any more, there's not any stewards whatsoever.

"So there's no guidance or anything down there. There's barely any lights down there, so you can't even see people coming."

Fellow student Imogen Mckiernan said: "I try not to go out for walks on my own in the dark any more, which I used to really enjoy doing. I get my friend to give me a lift or take the main road.

"The university does try to keep students safe. They have the marshals that sort of float around campus."

But she added: "I think there could be more of them. They're few and far between. You don't see them very often."

In light of the recent assaults, and following the concerns raised by students, the University of Kent is considering making changes to the footpath.

A spokesman said: "We have already increased the number of security patrols around Eliot footpath.

"Campus Security and representatives from Kent Union also recently conducted a 'night walk' of the campus to assess lighting and any other security issues that students have.

"As a result of this we are looking at several changes to Eliot footpath, including lighting, layout and fencing.

"We regularly provide students and staff with security information and advice.

"This includes information on: safe travel; our walking taxi service; the availability of free personal safety devices from Campus Security, including alarms; and SafeZone, our recommended free personal safety app which gives users quick access to emergency services, first aid and University security."

They added that CCTV is also in constant operation across the campus.

Last week, three men tried to grab a teenager as she walked over a railway bridge near Canterbury East, and threatened to throw her off it.

Police say they are not linking the incident with the assaults near the university.

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