A YOUNG Dutch woman has been raped and beaten in a vicious and sustained sex attack at a well-known beauty spot in Midlothian.

The 19-year-old had been sightseeing near Rosslyn Chapel when the man struck.

He pushed her down a steep roadside embankment after pouncing on her in daylight as she walked towards the village of Rosewell.

Police officers are waiting to talk to the teenager, who has been receiving treatment in an Edinburgh hospital for fractures to her face suffered during her ordeal near Roslin Glen.

Andy Waddell, a detective sergeant with Lothian and Borders police, said yesterday that they were anxious to catch the rapist before he struck again.

"It is obviously a great concern that someone who could carry out such a violent and brutal attack is still at large."

Speaking near the scene of the rape, in the shadow of the chapel and the nearby Rosslyn Castle, he added: "This was a particularly nasty, serious sexual assault which has left a young woman injured and severely traumatised."

The victim was attacked at about 6pm on Sunday as she made her way along a road which leads towards the former mining community of Rosewell.

She had been walking to a friend's house after a two-hour sightseeing visit to the woodland area, which was yesterday sealed off to allow forensic officers to search the scene for clues.

The teenager had just called her friend for directions to the house when the man attacked her.

After she was thrown down the 40ft embankment and pinned to the ground, the teenager was repeatedly punched on the face and raped, police say. The victim lives in Edinburgh and has been working in Scotland since last October After her attacker fled leaving her with what were described as "extremely nasty" facial injuries, she dragged herself up the steep slope.

The teenager, who has been working as a sales assistant, managed to flag down a passing vehicle and contact the emergency services.

Paramedics took her to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary about five miles away.

Her attacker is described as white, 5ft 9ins to 5 ft 10ins tall, and of medium build. He has a pale round face and cropped brown short hair with a fringe cut across the forehead. He spoke with a local accent.

Mr Waddell, who is based at Dalkeith police station, said the man was possibly wearing a light-coloured T-shirt which was tucked into light-coloured trousers, possibly blue denim jeans, and distinctive yellow or tan rigger-style boots.

Police are anxious to talk to anyone who was walking or driving along the B7003 Roslin to Rosewell road near the village late on Sunday afternoon who may recall seeing a man who answers the description.

"This is a very busy route and there must have been motorists who will have passed him on the road, " said Mr Waddell

"Although the attack took place in a rural setting the nearby road is a through road between Penicuik and Bonnyrigg. Anyone who recognises the description should contact police immediately."