Police launched a major manhunt after a woman was knocked unconscious in a vicious attack, dragged into Beddington Park and raped by a stranger.

The woman, in her 20s, was making her way home alone along London Road near to the Grange restaurant on Sunday between 10.30pm and 11.15pm.

She suffered a serious blow to the head when she was attacked from behind.

The woman raised the alarm by calling an ambulance after being forced into Beddington Park and sexually assaulted.

She was left with serious injuries including a broken wrist, broken nose and broken finger in the “horrific event”.

Detectives from the specialist sex crimes unit, Sapphire Command, are leading the hunt for the rapist and have carried out extensive searches of the area since the attack.

Sapphire’s Detective Inspector Neil Matthews said: “This was an appalling, vicious attack on a vulnerable individual. Bearing in mind the injuries sustained, it goes beyond a horrific event.

“She didn’t see her attacker but he may be covered in blood.”

D Insp Matthew said police were searching for a white man, about 5ft 11in, of medium build and in his 20s who passed her after she had been attacked as she walked in the direction of the Grange.

He came close up to her and walked off saying nothing.

He may have been wearing a dark hood, or a hat, or both and was possibly wearing a dark coat.

Police are treating him as a potential witness and there is nothing to suggest he is involved.

D Insp Matthews advised people to tell others where they go and be mindful.

Yvonne Traynor, the chief executive of Rape Crisis South London, said: “This is an appalling crime and thankfully one that happens very rarely so it is vital that anyone who may think that they have some information, however slight they think it might be, comes forward so that the police can take this man off our streets and put him where he belongs in prison for a very long time.”

London Road and part of the park was cordoned off between 11.40am and 2.30pm on Monday, while police carried out a fingertip search of the area.

Another wider search of the park was carried out on Wednesday morning.

Leigh Norris, 30, the Grange Restaurant’s general manager, said: “We were closed well before anything happened; we had already locked up.

“We can’t believe it happened so close to where we were.”

Superintendent Chas Bailey said: “I and my officers have been shocked that a woman on her way home after an evening out has been attacked and raped in Sutton.

“Officers from a number of specialist teams are working together and doing everything they can to do bring the person responsible to justice.

“I would like to reassure the community this was a very rare crime for Sutton – the first of its kind for many years.”

The woman was described as white, slim and wearing dark clothing.

Anyone with any information should call the Sapphire Command on 020 8721 4106 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.