A hunt is under way for a man who raped a woman in the toilets at a roadside cafe.

The 25-year-old businesswoman has been left traumatised by the attack at the Little Chef restaurant, beside the A1.

She was on her way to work, from her County Durham home, at about 7am on Thursday, when the attack happened.

She was driving north on the A1, heading towards Cramlington, Northumberland, when she felt unwell and pulled into the cafe at Seaton Burn services, to ask for help.

She saw a man hanging around at the entrance to the restaurant, but made her way to the toilets.

When she opened the door, the man jumped on her and bundled her into a cubicle.

She tried to fend off the attacker, but was overpowered and raped.

Acting Detective Inspector Shaun Tumelty, from Northumbria police, said: "This was a shocking, brutal assault on a woman who had been taken ill on her way to work.

"She was left in a distressed state, but after the man fled from the toilets, she managed to get into her car and drive on to her place of work.

"There, she told colleagues about the attack and they alerted police. We are pleading for anyone with any information to come forward to catch this man."

Detectives are examining closed-circuit television footage from the service station in a bid to track down the rapist.

He is described as being in his 30s, about 5ft 10in and well-built. He had short dark hair and wore a light coloured jacket.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastle North CID, on 0191-214 6555.