A CREWE woman was raped by a 'Good Samaritan' after a night out in Nantwich at the weekend.

The 27-year-old woman was invited to the man's home to phone for a taxi after losing her money, but he then locked the door and attacked her in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A manhunt has now been launched by Crewe detectives determined to find the attacker who preyed on the woman as she tried to get home.

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: "The victim had been out to Gregory's nightclub in Nantwich. At 1.30am to 2am she left the club to get a taxi home.

"At some point during the night the woman had been parted from her handbag, containing her money and her mobile phone.

"The woman walked alone from Greg's at the side of the Crown Hotel into High Street. From there she walked to the taxi rank in Swine Market near to Woolworths.

"She struggled to get a taxi having no money with her.

"After about ten minutes of waiting the woman was approached by a man.

"He had been stood nearby with a group of three others and offered to take her to his own home where she could call a taxi to pick her up. She agreed.

"The woman, the man and the group of friends then walked along Swine Market, passing the pizza parlour down the alleyway at the side of Somerfield onto Manor Road.

"At this point they left the main group.

"They continued walking along Manor Road away from town, passing the swimming baths and turning into a side street.

"The man then took the woman into a house described as semi-detached or terraced and having a UPVC door. A black Corsa was parked in the driveway.

"They walked in the house and the man locked the door behind them and forced the woman upstairs.

"She screamed and shouted hoping to alert one of the neighbours.

"She was then raped.

"A short time later the woman was driven back to the Wistaston area of Crewe by the man in the black Corsa."

The man has been described as white, in his mid 20s, 6ft tall and of slim, athletic build. He had light brown hair short at the sides and spiky on top, and had stubble on his face.

He was wearing light coloured blue jeans and a white t-shirt with a black stripe running across the sleeve and part of the chest. He spoke with a local accent.

Police are keen to hear from the group of men at the taxi rank, or anyone who may have seen the man and woman walking from the town.

Anyone who can help with the incident should contact investigating officer Detective Simon Woodcock on 01244 613333.