A MELKSHAM father accused of attempting to rape a 21-year-old girl in the town will appear before a crown court judge next week.

Martin Palmer, 28, of Foresters Park Road, Melksham, is accused of attempting to rape the young victim and stealing her handbag in an incident in Lowbourne on December 30.

He is due to appear at Swindon Crown Court on Thursday but has not entered pleas.

At the last hearing in June the judge adjourned the case for psychological reports to be prepared.

A team of 20 detectives worked on Operation Coldcall from an incident room in Trowbridge looking into two serious sexual assaults in Melksham seven months ago.

No one has been charged with the first December attack in which a 19-year-old woman was subjected to a 20-minute sex assault in an alleyway off Ruskin Avenue on December 7.

Investigations are still continuing and police are appealing for anyone who knows anything about the first incident to come forward.

Police are still warning women to be on their guard.