A WOMAN was pushed to the ground and repeatedly punched as she jogged through a park in a random attack.

Sharon Nunn, 56, suffered a black eye and bruises on her head and neck after the brutal attack in Northlands Park, Basildon, on Saturday, at 5am.

Women have been warned not to go into the 60-acre park alone until the assailant is caught after a series of attacks.

Mrs Nunn, who regularly jogs through the park, said: “I was running and had my headphones on and music playing and I sensed someone was behind me.

“I turned round and there was a man with a hoody on dressed all in grey.

“He pushed me to the ground and I fell to the floor and hit my head on the pavement.

“He was just punching me in the back of my head over and over, there must have been six or seven blows.

“I was cowering and then he suddenly stopped and just got up and ran. I was petrified and just kept thinking ‘keep on walking, get home’.

“I thought he might have been after my phone as that and my keys was all I had on me.”

The attacker fled and Mrs Nunn called police when she got home. She has been told to vary the time she runs and her route.

She said: “I’ve never had any trouble before and now I can’t even run in my local park. It’s ridiculous I have to change my route because there is this man out there.”

Northlands Park has been the target of a number of serious crimes in recent months.

A woman, 26, was raped as she walked through the park, in Pitsea, on June 13, at 8am.

In April, a teenage girl was led away from the swings by a man and was sexually assaulted.

Imelda Clancy, district councillor for Pitsea North West, warned women to go out in pairs and avoid Northlands Park until the attacks stop and asked police to increase patrols.

Mrs Clancy said: “This just shows nobody is safe, not even in broad daylight.

“Police really need to be vigilant and patrol it at least every hour, “Whoever is doing this is a coward and I’m very glad this woman was able to run away.

“My worry is it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

When will this stop?”

The suspect is described as white, aged 20 to 25 and wearing a grey hood and grey clothes, with his face covered.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police, on 101, or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555111.