CORFU?An elusive vagabond accused of raping four women including three British tourists on the Greek holiday island of Corfu has surrendered to police, local authorities said on Thursday.

Dubbed the "wildman" rapist by officials, the unidentified 37-year-old asked for a bath and a change of clothes before his arrest, police said.

The suspect, a former convict and drug addict, had hidden in the woods near the southern town of Lefkimmi where the rapes occurred in the past six weeks. Two of the British women were assaulted outside the town while the third said she was raped by the suspect after meeting him at a local bar.

The fourth accusation has been filed by a Greek woman who was the suspect's former girlfriend, according to police.

The man is accused of also robbing his victims after assaulting them.

He had been released from prison early this summer after a religious organisation paid his bail of 8,000 euros ($10,000), police said.

Corfu is a choice travel destination for thousands of mainly British tourists, many of whom later buy homes and settle on the island.