A MAJOR investigation is under way after a woman said she was raped after getting into what she thought was a cab. The 22-year-old was found in Blanche Street, Ipswich, in the early hours of yesterday and said that three men had been involved in the attack.

A MAJOR investigation is under way after a woman said she was raped after getting into what she thought was a cab.

The 22-year-old was found in Blanche Street, Ipswich, in the early hours of yesterday and said that three men had been involved in the attack.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the assault, which happened after the woman decided to leave friends she was with and get something to eat.

They are not linking the attack to another sexual assault which took place in the Regent car park last month.

In the latest incident the victim, from Ipswich, had been on a night out in the town with her friends when she left on her own at around 12.15am.

She then got into what she believed was a cab. Once inside she found two men already in the car and a third man then got in as well.

The woman said she was raped by one of the men while in the car and was found a short time later by a member of the public at the top of Blanche Street, just off Woodbridge Road.

The member of the public took the woman into her home and called the police at around 12.35am.

Forensic specialists were still taking samples at the scene which was cordoned off and Blanche Street was completely closed to traffic.

The woman was being looked after yesterday by specially trained officers.

Police would like to hear from anyone in the area who noticed a woman getting out of a car with three men inside.

If you have any information, please call Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.