Police are to quiz pub-goers today (Friday) evening after a woman was subjected to a brutal sex attack in a Chippenham churchyard.

The 22-year-old woman was set upon after leaving the busy Rose and Crown pub in the town centre on Friday.

It is believed she may have spoken to her attacker in the pub during the evening but she had told police she left the pub alone.

The victim, who needed hospital treatment for her injuries, is unsure of the exact time of the attack which happened in St Andrew's Churchyard some time after 10.30pm.

Detective Inspector Graham Hatswell said yesterday: "We are treating this attack very seriously. The Rose and Crown pub is always very busy at weekends and we hope some of the regulars will remember something."

Police are also carrying out forensic tests and studying CCTV footage in the hope of finding new clues.

Pub manager Jay Olsen, whose father Jeff has been the landlord of the Rose and Crown in Market Place for ten years, said: "Everyone here is very shocked by what happened. We know the victim and everyone wants to send her our best wishes.

"I have never known anything as serious as this to happen before. We are all very shocked."

Detective Constable Jo Spencer said the victim was recovering at home.

"In spite of the circumstances she is coping very, very well. She did receive some injuries in the attack but she is doing remarkably well," she said.

Det Chief Superintendent Gary Chatfield said he was worried about an increasing number of attacks in Wiltshire on women who walk home after drinking in pubs and clubs.

He said: "We would strongly recommend that women do not walk home alone and that they get a taxi if they have been drinking.

"Alcohol can make women less aware of dangers and easier prey for attackers."

Police are anxious to trace a man who called police on Saturday at 7.20pm, with information on the assault but did not leave his name.

"We do not believe this man is in any way connected to the assault but we believe he may have valuable information for us and are appealing for him to come forward," said DC Spencer.

There have been a spate of sexual attacks in Wiltshire in the last few weeks, with victims targeted in the Swindon area, but it is unheard of in Chippenham.

"Any offence of this nature is despicable and I cannot recall it ever happening in Chippenham before," said DC Spencer.

The congregation of St Andrew's has been shocked by the vicious attack. Vicar Simon Tatton-Brown said he first learned about the late night incident the following morning when he saw the churchyard gates covered in scenes of crime tape.

"I didn't really know what to think when I saw the tape," said Rev Tatton-Brown. "When I found out I was very shocked. What has happened is a terrible thing. People have been very shocked and distressed."

People living in St Mary's Street and the homes surrounding the churchyard have been questioned by police officers.

The victim of Friday's attack gave a good description of the man and police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen something that evening, particularly between 10.30pm and 1.30am.

The attacker was white, about six foot tall, with a muscular build and short dark hair brushed forward with a short fringe.

P olice in Wiltshire are also investigating a sex attack on a 42-year-old woman in Broughton Gifford, near Melksham, which happened on Monday at 9pm.

Police said the descriptions of the two men are different but the two investigating teams are liaising.