A man who groped three women in attacks within fifteen minutes of each other is being hunted by police.

The man is also wanted for following two other women and making sexually suggestive remarks to them

The man struck as the five women walked home in and around the Coley Avenue area of Reading between 6pm and 6.45pm on Thursday night.

The same man is being sought by detectives after a woman was "inappropriately touched" in Broad street Mall last Sunday.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the the five women were targeted by the man on Thursday night in Coley Avenue, Bath Road and Upcross Garden, all with a few hundred metres of each other.

The spokesman said: "The man is described as Asian, in his 20s, 5ft 8ins and with thick dark hair.

"He was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a dark jacket.

"A previous incident of inappropriate touching within Broad Street Mall, reported on Sunday, November 30, is being linked by police to the above incidents."

That man was described as a fair-skinned Asian man, aged in his 20s, with short black hair. He was wearing light blue faded jeans and a distinctive black baseball cap with the words I (love heart) haters, on it.

Detective Sergeant Matthew Fear said: “We are linking these incidents as the description and the incidents were very similar. He was walking up to women and either following them or making sexual suggestions. In some cases he touched the women inappropriately."

“We would urge people to be vigilant especially in these dark early evenings and also encourage anyone who sees anyone answering this description acting suspiciously to call us.”