Hunt for rapist who attacked girl, 10

A rapist who attacked a 10-year-old girl is being hunted by police today.

The girl was walking through a housing estate in Kent when a man dragged her on to waste ground at nine last night and subjected her to a terrifying 30-minute ordeal before fleeing.

She was injured and is being treated in hospital but police said her condition was not life-threatening. Her parents were at her bedside today as detectives waited to interview her about the attack, which happened on land close to Speldhurst flats on the Stanhope estate in Ashford.

Police have sealed off the area, including the nearby South Kent College and Linden Grove County Primary School, while a forensic science examination of the crime scene is carried out.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "This young girl was subjected to an awful attack. So far she has only been able to give us the briefest description of the attacker - that he was wearing blue jeans and a blue jumper. Details of the incident are sketchy but we believe this was a serious sexual assault."

Police have set up a mobile control centre on the post-war housing estate and are appealing for witnesses.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Murray is in charge of the investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.