A £2,000 bounty was today put on the head of the Hoodie Rapist who struck at a York churchyard.

The Evening Press has teamed up with the Crimestoppers Trust to co-ordinate the reward fund to catch the sex attacker.

Major York businesses - some of which wished to remain anonymous - have helped swell the fund to £2,000 for information leading to the arrest and charging of the rapist.

Evening Press posters were today being put up on First buses across the city in an effort to spark passengers' memories and urge them to come forward with any information.

First has contributed £200 to the fund. Peter Edwards, commercial manager, said today: "We want everyone in York to feel they are able to move around the city freely without fear for their safety.

"Normally York is that sort of city and this kind of incident makes people think twice - that is why we would urge our passengers to do all they can."

It is now ten days since the hooded rapist dragged a girl in her 20s into the churchyard of St Oswald's in Fulford Road, Fulford.

Today, despite receiving a number of calls, police said the attacker remained at large.

Chris Goss, chairman of the Yorkshire and Humber Crimestoppers Trust, said: "We are deeply concerned about this incident and we hope this reward will spur someone into action.

"Our lines are completely anonymous and manned 24 hours a day so anyone with information can call, without giving their name, at any time of the day or night."

The Evening Press posters were also being put up in bars and nightclubs across York such as Nexus, which also pledged £200 to the fund.

Detectives say they want to snare the Hoodie Rapist before he can strike again.

Detective Constable Craig Wilson, who is leading the hunt, said officers believe they have a good chance of catching him very soon.

He said the young woman victim was confident that the computer e-fit of her attacker was an "excellent" likeness.

He said: "We want to get this person before he has the opportunity to do anything again and for the protection of people in the area."

The attack occurred as the woman walked along Fulford Road in the direction of York city centre on Sunday, August 21, at about 3.45am.

She was grabbed from behind by the man and subjected to what police described as a serious sexual assault.

A police spokesman said: "It would be very unusual, given the circumstances, if someone out there does not have their suspicions about someone, particularly about a person they know and are possibly quite close to.

"We would urge anyone in this position to contact us. We would hope the incentive of a substantial reward may just encourage someone to make that phone call."

:: Contributors to the reward fund

CRIMESTOPPERS TRUST: £800

EVENING PRESS: £500

FIRST: £200

NEXUS: £200

MAJOR YORK BUSINESS (ANON): £200

MAJOR YORK BUSINESS (ANON): £100

To contribute to the reward fund phone the Newsdesk on 01904 567131 or email newsdesk@ycp.co.uk.

Updated: 16:41 Wednesday, August 31, 2005