A MARTIAL arts instructor is offering a free self-defence class this weekend after a number of sex attacks on women in Preston.

In the last two months, five young women have been sexually assaulted, with the latest attack occurring just this week, in the town's Moor Park.

A young girl was dragged into the public park by two young men in the early hours of Tuesday morning and subjected to a terrifying ordeal.

Now the instructors at World of Martial Arts a special class, for women to help them to feel safe.

Carl Norman, who runs the Preston centre in Blackpool Road, said: "We have got to try and do something to help. Every time I see the paper there is something else."

Now Carl, 34, from Liverpool, is holding the special 'just for women' class on Saturday, October 20, from noon to 1pm, to help them feel safe.

He said: "I drive to work from Liverpool every day and go past the park where the latest happened and saw it cordoned off.

"Later on I went into a shop and asked what had happened and the shopkeeper said there had been another attack. I didn't even know that there had been one attack.

"It is such a shame. I've got a wife and a little boy who is three and I've got him practising already.

The free class is being given by male and female instructors and is targeted towards women who could be at risk.

Carl said: "This free class will be targeted specifically at people who might be going home late, or walking on their own. Women of 13 or 14 years old and above."

Follow-up instruction to the free class will be around £5, but Carl hopes that the cost can be brought down if more people are interested. A spokesman for Lancashire police said: "Where appropriate women should be encouraged to be aware of their own personal safety needs and take whatever sensible precautions they feel appropriate when out walking. If they are offering free and helpful advice to women we wouldn't want to stand in their way."

For information contact World of Martial Arts on 558255.