A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape after a woman was attacked in woods after a night out.

The 43-year-old victim told police she was raped near a playground in Burgess Hill in the early hours of Saturday morning.

On Saturday night a 21-year-old man from Burgess Hill handed himself into police. He was questioned on suspicion of rape and released on bail until March 31.

Detective Inspector RobWalker said: “We have questioned a suspect and are not looking for anyone else at this stage.

“This matter does not appear to link to any other incident or individual.”

The woman told police she was waiting for a taxi outside Burgess Hill Library at about 2am on Saturday morning when she was approached by a man.

After having a conversation he offered to walk her home and they set off along Lower Church Road.

When they got to Marle Place in Leylands Road the woman was raped in a wooded area by the playground.

Afterwards the man left and the victim went home and raised the alarm, at about 3.15am.

DI Walker said: “The victim has cuts and bruises and is understandably very shaken by what has happened to her.

“We need to speak to anyone who was in the area between Civic Way and Leylands Road in the early hours of Saturday morning and could have seen the man and victim.

“We are particularly keen to find people who saw or heard anything suspicious near Marle Place between 2.30am and 3.20am.

“There is no suggestion at this stage that this is linked to any other incident.”

Mark Stenning, whose home and business Protec Glass is near the crime scene on Leylands Road, said: “It shouldn’t happen in this day and age but sadly it does. I feel very sorry for
the woman.

“There should more police on the streets and Marle Place should be lit better – there are no lights there at night at all. I think that would go a long way to making it safer.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting Operation Chef or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.