A MANHUNT was today under way to find a rapist who followed a young mum into her home and brutally attacked her.

The woman was threatened by the man who sneaked up behind her as she opened the front door to her home.

The vile attack happened in the middle of the day and police are not ruling out that she was followed to her Southampton home.

This morning major crime detectives took over the inquiry, which already has a team of 25 officers working on it.

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The terrifying ordeal happened in Millbrook at 1pm last Tuesday, but has only just been reported to police.

Women in the city are today being urged to be vigilant as extra patrols are drafted in as the hunt for the rapist continues.

The victim, described as “extremely traumatised” by her ordeal, has spent several hours being interviewed by specialist police.

Teams of officers have been carrying out enquiries within the community, including house-to-house calls to talk to dozens of local residents.

They are particularly asking anyone who thinks they may have been followed, or who has seen a suspicious man in the area in recent weeks, to come forward.

Detective Inspector Gary Towse, who is leading the manhunt, said, “We want to catch this man as soon as possible.

“It’s now a week since this attack happened, and it does not appear there have been any more. However, people in the community can be reassured that we are working hard to find him.”

He added “There will be extra officers patrolling the area to offer public reassurance and I would ask people to be alert because of this incident but not alarmed.

“Such attacks are very unusual but I would urge anyone who was in the Windermere Avenue and Wimpson Lane area who saw anything suspicious, or a woman being followed, to speak to us.”

Det Insp Towse said he did not believe the stranger rape was linked to any other incident in the city but enquiries were ongoing.

CAN YOU HELP?

•Detectives say the man they are looking for is white, and aged in his early to mid 20s. He is described as having short brown or dark hair and the victim has told police he was about 5ft 5in.

Anyone with information about the rape, which happened on Tuesday, February 2, should contact Meru incident room at Hulse Road on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.