WOMEN are being urged to be vigilant in the wake of an alleged sexual assault in a York graveyard.

Police are still taking details from a 36-year-old woman who was attacked between 1am and 4am on Sunday in St Martin's Church graveyard, in Micklegate.

Forensics combed the area yesterday for clues to the attack, which took place after the woman left nearby bar, Reflex.

Today, Jean Julian, chairman of Community Watch, gave advice for women out late at night.

"Work out where you're going and how you're going to get back before you go out," she said.

"Try and plan how you can cope if you are assaulted. It's not a nice thing to think about, but if you thought it through and put a plan in your head then you may well go into it automatically, but you've got to work out what's right for you and how you're going to deal with it.

"You can use a personal alarm, but don't keep it in your handbag; have it in your hand or on a bracelet because you don't have time to fish around in your bag. Hold it as close to the assailants ear as possible."

Acting detective sergeant Carl Nelson, of York Police, said the victim had spent the night in Reflex with two female friends. She later left with a man who took her to the graveyard.

The woman is described as white, 5ft 6ins tall with blonde, wavy, highlighted hair. She was wearing black plastic trousers, a black plastic jacket and a white polo shirt.

The attacker is described as being a white male, aged between 26 and 30, with black spiky gelled hair, a smooth complexion and a chunky, but not fat build.

He was wearing a black hooded jacket and dark trousers.

St Martin's Church has been closed for many years. Church leaders are currently discussing the building's future.

Martin Sheppard, spokesman for the Church of England in York, said: "An assault anywhere is a very serious matter, however much we might hope that even a closed churchyard would be a place of safety. I hope anyone who was near St Martin's churchyard in the small hours of Sunday will think carefully whether they saw or heard anything that could help the police get to the truth of what happened. We all need to look out for each other - and our prayers are with the person who suffered this attack."

Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen the victim and any of the company she kept in Reflex to come forward.

Anyone with information should phone 01609 768111.

Safety advice for females

(from North Yorkshire Police and Community Watch)

Leave details with friends or family of where you are going, who you are with and when you will be back

Carry a mobile phone programmed with In Case Of Emergency details

Do not go into dark isolated areas with strangers, stay in public areas in sight of other people or CCTV

If you do have to leave the company of friends with a stranger, make sure that your friends are aware of that person.

Avoid getting into vehicles with strangers

Make sure that there are friends around you to take care of you if you intend to drink alcohol

Keep your taxi money separate from the rest of your money so you won't spend your taxi money.

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, November 15, 2005