DETAILS emerged today of an horrific rape on a 20-year-old Ipswich woman in her own home.A man wearing a balaclava forced his way into the woman's home on the Chantry Estate estate after she unwittingly opened the front door to him.

DETAILS emerged today of an horrific rape on a 20-year-old Ipswich woman in her own home.

A man wearing a balaclava forced his way into the woman's home on the Chantry Estate estate after she unwittingly opened the front door to him.

He raped the woman and then left by the front door in the Sheldrake Drive area of the estate in broad daylight at 1pm yesterday.

Investigations were concentrating in Pelican Close and Bittern Close.

Detective Inspector John Quinton, leading the investigation, said: "This was a callous attack which has left the woman extremely shaken.

"This attack happened during a time of day when many people would have been in the area and we would appeal to anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in the area between 12 noon and 2pm yesterday to come forward."

The attacker is described as wearing dark clothing and a dark balaclava.

DI Quinton went on: "This enquiry is still in its early stages and we are continuing to work with the victim to gain more information about this incident."

A police spokesman added: "The victim has been examined and it is being treated as a genuine rape allegation."

Police were alerted to the alleged assault yesterday evening but the sex attack is claimed to have taken place at a property earlier in the afternoon.

Today officers were conducting house-to-house inquiries near where the attack took place.

And nearby residents spoke of their shock at the news.

"This is awful news, not what you expect to happen around here," said one woman who did not wish to give her name.

The officers on the ground were joined by senior detective Superintendent Roy Lambert as they stepped up their inquiries today.

As residents on the Chantry estate heard the reports, the news was hitting home as it has happened not far from the place were a teenager was raped last year after walking with a man from outside the Kartouche nightclub on Princes Street.

Anyone with information about the rapes is asked to contact Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.