Villagers in Yatesbury have voiced their outrage at the alleged rape of a 71-year-old woman who was attacked as she walked her dog.

Yesterday Michael Simon Alcock, 27, of no fixed abode but from Bridgend, in South Wales, appeared before North Wiltshire magistrates charged with the sex attack on Wednesday last week.

Alcock did not plead and was remanded in custody to appear before Swindon Crown Court on December 19.

The pensioner, from Wiltshire, was allegedly attacked at about 1pm as she walked her dogs in a small wooded area down a slip road off the A4 between Cherhill and Beckhampton. The track leads to The Old Gymnasium and Officer’s Mess of the Yatebury airfield.

Police were alerted and immediately launched a man hunt involving more than 30 officers.

The air ambulance was scrambled to help the search and police spent many hours stopping all vehicles on the A4 to find out if the drivers and passengers had seen anything suspicious.

Disgusted villagers have voiced their outrage over the attack and women from both Yatesbury and Beckhampton say they are too frightened to walk their dogs alone now.

Mary Watkins, who lives just outside Yatesbury, said: “This is an abomination and our hearts go out to this poor woman.

“We have had a meeting among some neighbours and decided to only walk out with other people and make sure no-one is walking alone.

“This has shocked our community to its very core and many of us are still in complete shock.”

Farm hand Sam O’Brien works in a field close to where the attack happened.

He said: “We usually have plenty of dog walkers around here but I haven’t seen any since this happened.

“It is disgusting that a woman is abused in this way no matter what the circumstances but to happen to someone of this age is disgusting. Nothing like this has ever happened around here and we all just pray it never does again.”

Senior police chief Gavin Williams spoke of his shock at the sex attack as his officers launched an in depth search of the area.

Chief Inspector Williams said: “I have never come across an attack of this sort before and it is a particularly shocking one.

“I would like to reiterate my previous advice to anyone walking alone that you let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return, take a mobile phone with you at all times and remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

“Incidents such as this one are extremely rare in our county and Wiltshire does remain safe.”

Anyone with information on this incident should call the incident room on 0845 408 7000, or anonymously, on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.