INVESTIGATIONS were continuing today into the alleged rape of a woman in Ipswich.The alleged attack, at a house in the Sheldrake Drive area of the Chantry estate, was reported to police yesterday evening.

By Jo Macdonald

INVESTIGATIONS were continuing today into the alleged rape of a woman in Ipswich.

The alleged attack, at a house in the Sheldrake Drive area of the Chantry estate, was reported to police at 6.30pm yesterday.

Detectives are in the early stages of their enquiry and are still collecting details of the sexual assault from the victim but the allegations are being treated as serious.

A police spokesman this morning said: "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.

Residents on the large Chantry estate were today waking up to the reports and the news is likely to hit home as it has happened not far from the place were a teenager was raped last year.

Early on July 28 a 19-year-old from Colchester, who had been out clubbing with friends at Kartouche nightclub, was befriended by a man who was posing as a Good Samaritan.

Promising to walk her to the place where she was to meet her boyfriend he then took her along Ranelagh Road, Birkfield Drive and into Stone Lodge Lane where he raped her on an isolated pathway near Paul's Sports and Social Club.

Despite media appeals and the attack being featured on the BBC's Crimewatch UK programme, her attacker has not yet been caught.

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