POLICE are continuing to investigate an alleged sex attack in Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens.

Dorset Police arrested a 23-year-old male on suspicion of rape following an alleged incident which took place before 4.30am on Thursday morning.

The man has since been released on bail, pending further enquiries.

A woman in her 20s made a claim that she was raped to the police.

Police cordoned off an area of woodland - located opposite land where the ice rink was situated before it was taken down in January.

One officer was stationed to man the cordon when his shift started yesterday morning.

He was seen accompanied by forensic investigators who conducted a search of the area using a torch and other equipment. The female investigator was witnessed taking photographs of the area and carrying evidence bags, at around 10am.

The path leading from the crazy golf course to the West Central development remained open to the public while their investigations were underway and the cordon was taken down at some time before 1.30pm.

Ward councillor Bob Chapman said the only other incident he had heard of recently was the robbery at Suffolk Road underpass last week in which a man in his 50s lost three teeth smashed from his mouth in an early morning attack by two strangers. It has not been suggested that the incidents are related.

“Our gardens are regarded as very safe,” he said. “It is horrible. I don’t like to hear of these incidents and fortunately they are relatively rare in this town.

“I would like to see improved police patrols but I appreciate it’s very difficult to patrol every area at that time of the morning.”

David Dibben, of Bournemouth Council Parks, said the cordon was already up when he arrived to start work at 7.30am. Employees at the Garden Deli, opposite the crazy golf course, and ice cream stand located on the edge of the gardens, said they were not aware of any police presence until they saw the cordon.