A community has told of its shock after reports a woman was raped in Weymouth.

A police cordon is in place at the Marsh behind Weymouth Swimming Pool following the attack on a footpath leading towards Dennis Road.

A resident of Southview Road which is near the scene, said: “I could hear screaming last night. I was half asleep so didn’t know if I was just hearing things.

"It sounded like someone was screaming and someone else was shouting for them to shut up."

They added: “It’s so scary for something like this to happen so close to where you live.”

One resident of Abbotsbury Road said several police cars and a police helicopter were at the scene.

He added: “I got up at 6.45am and there were police there then.

“The officer couldn’t tell us exactly what had happened but they said it was something terrible.

“It’s a bit close to home. You don’t imagine something like this happening so close.”

A resident of Dennis Road, where the police cordon is placed, said: "I tried to cut through the foot path to get my morning paper and it was closed off.

"The road has been cordoned off a few times over the years but I wouldn't have expected that."