DETECTIVES have been knocking on the doors of dozens of potential suspects in the hunt for York's Hoodie Rapist.

Officers have received many calls following repeated appeals in the Evening Press for information about the churchyard attack.

A £2,000 cash bounty is still on offer for anyone who can put a name to the face of the man responsible and help bring him to justice.

Members of the public have given officers many names of people they believe match an e-fit of the hooded attacker released by police.

Detective Constable Craig Wilson said officers had begun working through the "lengthy" list of people to check out their stories.

But he said that no one visited by police so far was in the frame for the disturbing sex attack that took place in the churchyard of St Oswald's in Fulford Road, Fulford.

It is now more than seven weeks since the woman, aged in her 20s, was dragged into the churchyard and raped.

Det Con Wilson said: "We have been methodically going through all the names that have come in. We are knocking on doors checking out the large number of leads that have come from the Press appeal.

"The victim is being kept fully up to date and she is getting the support she needs from us and her family. But until that man is caught, she is obviously worried.

"Although we have been given many names, we have had very few people come forward who were in the area at the time of the attack. Even though it was around 4am, this is one of the main roads out of York. I believe people were in the area and may have seen something that could help us."

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.

Police believe someone may remember seeing the victim who was wearing distinctive teddy bear pyjama bottoms, a black T-shirt and training shoes.

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

Posters have been put up on First buses across the city in an effort to spark passengers' memories.

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

The rapist is described as white, aged between 20 and 25, about 6ft tall with short dark hair, shaved at the back. He was clean-shaven and well-built. He had dark eyes and clear skin. His nose looked as if it had been broken at some time.

Anyone with information should phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 606 0247.

Updated: 09:30 Wednesday, October 12, 2005