POLICE have issued a warning to women in the Chelmsford area to be vigilant after a woman was subjected to a vicious rape in the town centre.The warning comes as officers are appealing for information after the 25-year-old was raped by two men near Chelmsford railway station.

POLICE have issued a warning to women in the Chelmsford area to be vigilant after a woman was subjected to a vicious rape in the town centre.

The warning comes as officers are appealing for information after the 25-year-old was raped by two men near Chelmsford railway station.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the woman was approached by an Asian man as she sat on steps outside Dukes nightclub in Duke Street.

The woman was turned away from the nightclub because she turned up late and it had reached full capacity.

Following a conversation with the man, she got into a small, dark car with two other men inside.

After being driven a short distance away, the car stopped near Chelmsford railway station where two of the men raped and assaulted her.

The woman managed to break free and ran in a distressed state police said, towards Bolingbroke and Wenleys furniture store in Parkway.

The woman went straight to the police where she was given a medical examination but was not taken to hospital.

The incident is believed to have happened between 2.15am and 3am on Tuesday .

All three men are described as of Asian appearance, of slim build and aged between 18 and 20. One of the men was wearing a distinctive full head bandana.

Det Insp Euen Wilson said: "The woman is obviously very, very distressed and we are taking every step to ease that distress.

"This is not one of a series, this is a specific incident. But whilst I would not want to alarm anyone, people should be careful when travelling alone and must not get into a car with strangers."

He added: "We are not specifically targeting any section of the community, we just very much want to speak to those involved."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det-con John Vickers on 01245 491212.

nPolice are still investigating the alleged rape of a teenage boy in a Chelmsford bed and breakfast in August last year.

But since releasing the name and picture of Henry Solari, the man they wish to question over the alleged rape, last Friday, the police have so far received no new leads.