A WOMAN who claimed she was raped could face legal action for wasting police time.

Detectives at Hartlepool launched a manhunt and called a press conference to appeal for the public's help after a woman told police she had been raped by a bogus workman.

The 36-year-old victim has now withdrawn her complaint, and it is understood a file will be sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for advice on the matter.

Hartlepool Police are expected to release more details today, but revealed that the woman had gone to them claiming that a man, masquerading as a central heating engineer, had forced himself on her in her house earlier this month.

She said her attacker told her that her husband had asked him to repair the central heating, but that, after allowing the man into the house, he threatened her, punched her in the face - then raped her.

Detectives, fearing the man might attack again, warned women to be wary when inviting strangers into their homes - while appealing for the assailant's relatives or friends to come forward