POLICE in Edinburgh are hunting a tattooed man following a serious sex

attack yesterday on an 18-year-old woman as she went to work.

The secretary had stepped from a bus at 8am in Redford Road, Colinton,

and was grabbed from behind and pulled into bushes in the driveway

leading to Redford Barracks.

She was forced against a tree and subjected to a serious sexual attack

before her screams led to her assailant running off, according to

Lothian and Borders police.

They hope the detailed description given by the woman will help to

trace the attacker. He has a tattoo of a heart with the letters HMFC

between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand.

He was said to be about 5ft 10in, slim, with short brown spiky hair,

and in his late twenties or early thirties.

He had a leather strap or bootlace on his right wrist, and wore a blue

padded ski jacket and blue jeans.

A police spokeswoman added: ''The girl was not injured, but was

extremely shocked. We are anxious to hear from anyone who can help in

our inquiries.

''In particular, we would like to hear from a woman who was walking

her dog on the north side of Redford Road, near the barracks, around

8am.''

Police, already investigating two other separate sex attacks in the

city centre over the New Year, ask anyone who may be able to identify

the man in the Colinton incident to contact Wester Hailes police office

on 031-442-2626.