A woman was left distressed after witnessing a man carrying out an act of public indecency in the woods near the River Irvine while walking her dogs on Monday morning [November 15].

The incident happened at around 8.10am when a woman walking her dogs on a cycle path near to Greenbank Road noticed a man acting suspiciously near to Fullarton Arches and the Scott Road bridge.

The man proceeded into a wooded area and carried out an indecent act in front of the woman.

The woman confronted him - and used her mobile phone to capture an image of the man - who subsequently left the area in the direction of the Scott Road bridge.

He is described as white, aged in his twenties, and possibly spoke with an Eastern European accent. As he approached the main road he was seen to put on a surgical-type face mask.

Inspector Andy Dolan from Irvine Police Station said: “The woman has been able to provide mobile phone footage of the man and we are conducting enquiries in the local area to establish his identity.

“I’d appeal to anyone who was in the area on Monday morning and who may have seen a man acting suspiciously to come forward and report this to police.

“Equally anyone who can help us identify and trace the man responsible should get in contact with officers as soon as possible.”

Those with information should contact Police Scotland via 101 and quote incident number 1178 of 15 November 2021. An anonymous report can be given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.