New Plymouth Police want the public's help after the traumatic sexual assault of an elderly woman in her home three days before Christmas

Detective Sergeant Pat Yates believes the woman first met her attacker when he helped her change a punctured tyre after she damaged her car while parking at Waitara's Marine Parade.

He then drove her home in her 2005 white-coloured Toyota Spacio.

Police are seeking any information from the public who might have seen the man changing the tyre in the early afternoon of December 22nd.

They also want any sightings of the vehicle while it travelled from Waitara to Bell Block between midday and 2.30pm.

The woman is receiving support from family and friends.