A woman who heard screams from outside her home in Waterside, Ross-on-Wye, may have stopped an assault becoming something even more serious.

Gaynor Cummins told the Ross Gazette that she was woken up at about 2.30am on Saturday, October 22nd by the sound of screaming. She said that she knew it was not kids messing about. She said: “I knew something was not quite right.”

Gaynor opened the window and heard a woman shouting ‘no’. She then shouted: “What are you doing?” And she told the Gazette she then saw a man run past the house and go in the direction of Park Walk.

As Gaynor went downstairs, she said that it crossed her mind that it might be a trick of some sort, and someone would try to get into her house, but she said when she got outside she could see the woman on her knees and she was sobbing.

Gaynor said: “I asked her if she was alright and she couldn’t stop sobbing. I helped her into the house and then called the police. She was so shaken it was horrible to see.”

Gaynor added: “I acted on instinct, and I think it could have been much worse if I hadn’t shouted out.”

There have been many comments on social media following the incident, praising Gaynor for her bravery.

She told the Ross Gazette: “I keep thinking that I did not really do anything, but I think it could have been much worse if I hadn’t of shouted.”

She said: “I hope that by speaking out other women are alerted and, although we live close to town, it is worth getting a taxi and not walking home alone.”

The police have confirmed that they were called to reports of an assault in Waterside at around 2.35am on Saturday, October 22nd.

A spokesman said that a woman was understood to be walking through an alleyway from Gloucester Road, near to the Chase Hotel, when an unknown man is believed to have grabbed her from behind. She escaped but suffered slight bruising to her arms and was left shaken up by the incident.

The man, who is believed to have ran off in the direction of Park Walk, is thought to have dark hair and may have been wearing a leather jacket. He is described as speaking with an eastern European accent.

Anyone with information is asked to call West Mercia Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting incident number 094S of October 22nd.