A SEX beast violently raped a young woman as she waited at a bus stop on Saturday night.

The unsuspecting 22-year-old local woman was punched in the face before she was dragged into a secluded grassed area and subjected to a terrifying ordeal.

The incident happened just below the Duke Bar area of Burnley where a similar attack happened in August last year -- although police are not linking the two at this stage.

Police have also ruled out the possibility that an indecent assault in Burnley town centre last week is linked to the rape.

The attacker approached the white female as she was standing at a bus stop, near to the speed camera on Colne Road, opposite Lee Street, at 10.45pm on Saturday.

He began talking to her before punching her in the face.

The attacker led the dazed and disorientated woman into Marls Court, heasantford Green, where he indecently assaulted and raped her.

Police want to speak to a girl seen talking to the suspected rapist shortly after the attack. The attacker is believed to have remained in the vicinity for some time afterwards.

Sergeant Steve Mounsey said: "It was an extremely nasty attack on a lone female which started as a violent assault followed by her rape. The ordeal has left her completely traumatised."

The woman was taken to Burnley General Hospital to be treated for her injuries and shock.

Det Sgt Mounsey added: "We are keen to speak to anybody who may have been in the area at the time. It wasn't too late so there would have been plenty of vehicles travelling along Colne Road. There would have been people in the area who may have seen something and we would urge those people to get in touch."

Police cordoned off the area to carry out forensic examinations.

The attacker is described as Asian , aged 18-19, 5ft 9in to 5ft 11in, with black hair, shaved at the sides, with muscular build and a chubby face. He was wearing a black baseball cap, a navy sports jacket and dark tracksuit bottoms.

Contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.