Police raced to Canterbury city centre after the infamous masked "man" was spotted walking along the High Street – only to discover it was a woman.

Officers pounced on her in the Station Road West car park after a panicked member of the public called 999 on Friday afternoon.

But the unsuspecting woman was oblivious to the recent incidents, which have seen a masked man terrorising women in Canterbury and even attack one in the city's Longport.

The woman handed over her V for Vendetta mask to police.

It was similar to the one worn by the attacker of 19-year-old student Stephanie Shepherd, who was knocked to the ground as she walked through the city on October 11.

Days later, a 15-year-old boy identified himself as the masked figure pictured in CCTV images released by the police.

But detectives have ruled him out of their investigation into the attack on Miss Shepherd.

It is not known why the woman stopped on Friday was wearing a mask.

Police spokesman Jane Walker said: "There were reports at 4pm of a man in a mask, similar to the V for Vendetta mask, walking down Canterbury High Street.

"Officers attended and established the man was in fact a woman. She was stopped in the Station Road West car park.

"She was spoken to about the recent incidents and handed over her mask, saying she didn't want anything else to do with it.

"She was given words of advice and is not part of our investigation into the incident involving a woman who reported she was grabbed."

Police continue to investigate the sightings. Anyone with information should call 101 or the investigating team on 01227 868278.