Detectives are appealing for information after a woman was raped in a wooded area earlier this month.

Hertfordshire Constabulary says it is investigating the incident which happened between 6.30pm and 8pm on Sunday May 16 in South Oxhey.

Police say it took place on a path in a wooded area that runs alongside the stream adjacent to Prestwick Road.

The victim is aged in her 50s and police say she had been out walking when she fell over and lost consciousness.

Sometime later, she woke up beside a tree before making her way home. 

As part of its investigation, police are seeking to piece together an exact timeline of events, including how the woman came to fall and when she was sexually assaulted.

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Detective Inspector Michael Macbeth, who is overseeing the investigation, is appealing for anyone who may have information about what happened to get in touch.

He says extensive enquiries have taken place this week, but now are calling on the public for help.

He is hoping to trace a couple of people who were in the area when the woman woke up.

Det Insp Macbeth said: "The victim has been left understandably traumatised by what happened and has only just felt able to consent to this media appeal being released.

"She is being supported by specially-trained officers in our Sexual Offences Investigation Team (SOIT) at what continues to be an extremely difficult time for her.

"We were first made aware of this incident on Monday 24 May and have been carrying out extensive enquiries ever since, and now we are extending our investigation by involving the public.

"The victim believes she saw a couple of people in the distance when she regained consciousness so we are keen to try and identify them. If you were walking in the area around the times stated, and you saw anything unusual, please contact us as you are likely to have information which could greatly assist our investigation."

The incident is understood to have occurred somewhere in or around where has been circled on the map. Credit: Google Maps

The incident is understood to have occurred somewhere in or around where has been circled on the map. Credit: Google Maps

Police have confirmed they have only received one report of a sexual assault in this area.

Det Insp Macbeth said: "We are aware of some concern among residents that there has been a series of attacks on women in the local area, but I can confirm that this is the only report of this nature that we have received. We are not linking this incident to any other reports and are treating it as a standalone case.

"I understand that news of this incident will be worrying for the community, but incidents such as this are very rare and I would like to reassure the public that we are doing all we can to trace the person responsible."

Anyone with information can report online at herts.police.uk/report, or call 101, quoting crime reference 41/38743/21.

Or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.