A man in his 60s has been arrested after a suspected rape on a nature path near Bournemouth beachfront.

Detectives continue to probe a suspected rape in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth after reports of an attack on Wednesday evening.

It unfolded after a woman, in her 40s, and a man had met on Woodland Walk that evening.

Dorset Police said it received a report of the rape at 12.16am on Thursday night, and that the attack occurred around three hours earlier.

Now a man, in his 60s from Bournemouth, has been arrested on suspicion of rape, the force confirmed.

Detective Inspector Edmund Murray said: ‘We are continuing to support the victim and have updated her of the latest development.

‘An investigation was launched and we have now made an arrest as we continue to investigate what happened.

‘I am appealing to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area that may assist our enquiries to please get in touch.

‘Our local neighbourhood policing team will be patrolling the area and can be approached by anyone who has concerns or wants to provide information.’

Woodland Walk, a hiking path connecting the major Christchurch Road and the Boscombe cliffs, was cordoned off during the scene investigation.

Residents said the suspected attack left them concerned.

Kirsty, 50, told the Bournemouth Echo: ‘Woodland Walk has increasingly become a very unsavoury area for anyone to be on their own but especially for women.

‘I have not felt safe in Boscombe for many years and increasingly in the surrounding areas.’

She urged the council, police and local MPs to work on efforts for better protections in areas where anti-social behaviour has been reported.

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