A MANHUNT for a sex attacker who bit off a woman's tongue has resulted in an Ipswich arrest it can be revealed today.The man was arrested in Ipswich last night, after the attack in Blackpool, Lancashire in the early hours of yesterday morning.

A MANHUNT for a sex attacker who bit off a woman's tongue has resulted in an Ipswich arrest it can be revealed today.

The man was arrested in Ipswich last night, after the attack in Blackpool, Lancashire in the early hours of yesterday morning.

He was being held in Ipswich this morning but was likely to be taken to Lancashire later on today.

Nationwide appeals were released yesterday following the horrific attacks to find the offender and his blue Vauxhall Astra.

A member of the public in Ipswich saw the car in field. They contacted local police, who found a 35-year-old man sleeping inside.

Detective Superintendent Ian Jones of Lancashire Police said the man had been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and attempted abduction.

The attacker was also being sought in connection with two further attacks in the early hours of yesterday morning in Cheshire.

The three separate attacks took place in Blackpool, Lancs, and Knutsford, Cheshire, in the early hours of Friday.

In one of them, a 26-year-old woman had a substantial part of her tongue bitten off after she got into the man's car.

Mr Jones said: "I would sincerely like to thank the person who made the call to the police. I would also wish to express my gratitude to the media who have no doubt played a massive part in this inquiry."

Mr Jones said the man was not local to the Blackpool area, but was believed to live in London or the South East.

He was not the owner of the car, which was registered in Essex, but the car had not been reported stolen. Detectives were today trying to establish how he came to be driving it.

Det Supt Jones said the woman who lost part of her tongue was feeling more comfortable today but was still extremely distressed.

He said: "I'm pleased to say she is more comfortable than she was yesterday but I'm sure you understand she remains in hospital, she is very uncomfortable physically and very distressed emotionally.

"She has not been able to make a statement so far, but with the help and assistance of medical staff that is something we hope to get today.'

He described the offender as "a very disturbed individual'.