An 18-YEAR-OLD girl was found staggering along a road after being raped on a cyclepath.

The victim was walking home after a night out when she was attacked by a man on a path next to Avenue East in Three Bridges on Saturday.

He raped her and left the scene. The girl was found along Haslett Avenue East by a member of the public shortly before 11.30pm.

She was treated by paramedics before being taken to a specialist unit that supports the victims of rape and sexual assaults.

Crime scene investigators were searching the area between Sutherland House and the BMW dealership on Sunday for any evidence that could identify the attacker.

Police said the incident is not currently being linked to any others and officers are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the victim or the attacker.

The news comes as figures revealed more sexual offences are being reported in Sussex than ever before.

There was a 25% jump in figures from last year, statistics released last month by the Office of National Statistics said.

A total of 2,148 incidents were reported to Sussex Police in 2014 compared to 1,697 the previous year.

The total is up across Brighton and Hove, Crawley, Eastbourne, Rother, Hastings, Horsham, Lewes, Wealden and Worthing.

The spike was seen as positive by some charities, like Rape Crisis England and Wales, which put the increase down to the fact that people are more willing to come forward and report crime.

Detective Inspector Rob Walker said: "We believe the rape happened at around 11pm but we are still trying to pinpoint exactly when because the victim is understandably very shaken by her ordeal.

"She is shocked and upset but thankfully does not have serious physical injuries and we are giving her support.

"We need to speak to anyone who used the cyclepath that runs between Furnace Green and Haslett Avenue East on Saturday night or who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area.

"Haslett Avenue East is a busy road so there will have been lots of motorists in the area who may have seen the victim after she was attacked.

"If you have any information at all, please contact us."

Call police on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Bowler or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.