POLICE have called off their hunt for a sex offender in Tidworth after the allegation was withdrawn.

Detective Inspector Matthew Johnson, said: “Police began an investigation after an allegation was made by a young woman that a serious sexual assault had occurred near to Beech Hill Road, Tidworth.

“The woman has since withdrawn the allegation and officers are satisfied from their enquiries that she has not been the victim of a sexual assault.

“Wiltshire Police take any allegations of sexual assault extremely seriously and officers will respond by thoroughly investigating.”

Cllr Andrew Connolly, said: “This sort of thing puts Tidworth in a very bad light.

“On top of this there were several girls who were coming into the shop and who were very very frightened when they heard about this.”