Police investigating Telford sex attack which sealed off road for 36 hours

The assault in the area of Wrockwardine Wood Way in Telford happened in the early hours of Saturday.

Officers have launched an appeal for witnesses who might have seen any suspicious activity in the Oakengates, Stafford Road and Wrockwardine Wood Way area between the hours of 2:30am and 4am on Saturday morning.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police, said: "We are taking this incident very seriously and have substantial resources in place working on the investigation, I would like to reassure the public that everything is being done to identify the suspect."

"I am seeking the assistance of members of the public who may have any information that can assist us in our investigation to contact police on 101 quoting 133s of 18 July."

Officers said they were called at 3.40am to reports of an assault on a woman and the road was closed between New Road and Wombridge Road while investigations took place.

Residents reported seeing multiple police cars and forensic investigators at the scene.

The road reopened on Sunday and was closed for more than 36 hours.

Ian Heighway, 39, who lives in nearby Hollyhurst Road, said traffic had been diverted down his road while the incident was being investigated.

He said: "It is just the sheer number of police we have seen. On Saturday evening I saw three forensic vehicles, two dog vans and six police cars in total.

"The forensic team were all walking round in their paper suits. I got back about 6pm and I could see the road was closed. There were police everywhere and something very serious had gone on."

"It is not good. I have lived in the area all my life and we have never seen so much police activity.

"We have had numerous car accidents and crashes, but this is different –It has never been like this for 24 hours a day."

He said residents were worried.

"People feel really shocked that something like this has happened," he said. "We are all wondering how bad it is."

"All the traffic is being diverted up my road."

Nearby resident Alexandra Smith said: "It looked really serious, they were not even allowing walkers over the bridge."

Another resident, Tina Wallace Sale, said: "I just came that way and both lanes were taped off and so was the bridge."