A women's group has called for the legalisation of mace or pepper spray following yet another attack on a woman at the weekend.

Penny Dill, chairwoman of The Women's Resource Centre, made her plea yesterday after hearing of the latest violent attack -- which is just one of a number in recent weeks.

A 29-year-old woman needed hospital treatment after being grabbed from behind in the early hours of Saturday morning when she was just yards from her home in Riddell's Bay Road in Warwick.

During a violent struggle, she managed to climb the steep set of steps leading to her house before opening her front door and allowing her dogs to escape and attack the man.

Yesterday, she was not at home when The Royal Gazette called, but neighbours said the woman was shocked and bruised by her ordeal.

Ms Dill said the increasing number of attacks made women feel vulnerable and said they should be able to empower themselves by carrying some kind of spray.

She said: "I would like to see women being able to protect themselves more by carrying mace or a pepper spray.

"For the women who have been attacked, it might have saved them from their ordeals.

"Police are saying they will not allow mace or such sprays because they can be used against officers, but women should be given something to help prevent attacks. Perhaps they should carry a small can of hairspray, instead.

"I think the time has come for them to review the law to allow them to carry it. The sprays will not kill anyone, but it could be the trick to keeping people safe.'' Yesterday, a Police spokeswoman would not comment about the mace and pepper sprays, but The Royal Gazette understands them to be illegal and to be considered an unlawful weapon.

Therefore, legislation would have to be changed if women were to be permitted to carry them.

Yesterday, Attorney General Dame Lois Browne Evans urged members of The Women's Resource Centre to write to her with their concerns.

She added: "I will investigate what they are saying tomorrow.'' The Riddell's Bay incident, which happened at about 2.30 a.m. on Saturday on the border of Warwick and Southampton, is the latest in a number of attacks on women on the Island.

It is the fourth to occur in the Southampton area in the last nine weeks.

At the end of August, a man broke into a house in East Avenue, near Horseshoe Bay, and sexually assaulted a woman as she lay asleep in her bed. He then beat her about the face and head as she tried to telephone for help and also threatened to rape her.

A man has since pleaded guilty to that attack and appeared in court.

In October, a teenage girl was raped as she walked along the Railway Trail near Tribe Road Number Two in Southampton at about 5.30 p.m.

And then just days later, a 29-year-old woman was sexually assaulted near to the Jehovah's Witness church at Heron Bay in Middle Road, Southampton, in the early hours of the morning.

While walking home she had accepted a lift off a man on a moped near to Warwick Lanes in Warwick.

Call for mace, pepper spray However, she became concerned after he failed to follow her directions. She jumped off the bike and began to walk the rest of the way home, but he came back and grabbed her, before throwing her into a dark lane and assaulting her.

Then, just last Saturday, a 47-year-old woman was raped and had two front teeth punched out as she walked through St. John's Cemetery in Pembroke.

The victim claims she was walking through the cemetery at about 11 p.m. when she was grabbed from behind and forced to the ground.

Both the men in the Pembroke and Heron Bay attacks are described as having light brown skin. In the latest attack on Saturday, the victim only managed to see his hand, which she said was dark brown.

Police have issued warnings to women and urged them not to walk in dark areas alone at night.

However, officers said they were treating the latest attack as an isolated incident and were not connecting it to the others at this stage.

The Police spokeswoman added: "This is not a trend. We are not treating the latest incident as though it is linked to the others and it does not warrant extra advice. But women should exercise caution, especially at night.'' However, both women and men in the Southampton and Warwick areas yesterday said they were concerned about the regularity of attacks.

Anne Edwards, who lives in Riddell's Bay Road, said: "I am very concerned.

Just about anywhere on this Island is very close to home, but the latest one is right on top of us. I hope the Police catch the people responsible soon.'' Mother Julie Campbell, also of Riddell's Bay Road, said she deliberately tried to come and go from her home in daylight hours.

She added: "The attacks are very disturbing.

"The Island is small, so somebody somewhere must know something. It's a shame because women do not feel they are able to walk alone. These incidents are very worrying to women.'' And Lloyd Raynor, of nearby Raynor's Drive, Southampton, said many people in the area were talking about the attacks.

He added: "I know people are very concerned. Women used to go walking or running alone, but they are afraid to, especially after dark, now.'' Ms Dill, of the resource centre, urged women to take extra care.

She added: "Until the Police apprehend the person, or people, responsible, women should be extremely cautious.

"It appears to me that whoever is doing this is waiting and watching to find a woman alone in the dark. I would ask everyone to be aware and if they see anything suspicious to call the Police, and if women are coming home at night, they should be aware of who is around them.'' Anyone with information should call Police on 295-0011.