A YOUNG woman was viciously gang raped in Reading town centre after a night out.

The 20-year-old Reading victim had been chatting to a man outside Xen bar in Friar Street in the early hours of Sunday morning when he and three of his friends cornered her in an alley off nearby Merchant's Place and subjected her to the terrifying attack.

It happened between 1.30-2.30am and Detective Inspector Nick Watts, from Reading CID, said: "We believe that the victim was attacked by the man that she had met outside the bar and that three of his friends came to the area and took part in the assault on her.

"I'm keen to trace four black men, all between 5ft 4ins and 6ft who were all dressed in casual clothing."

He added: "There are flats near to where this incident happened so I am confident that someone may have seen or heard something that could help us progress our investigation."

Anyone with information can contact Reading CID via 0845 850 5505, quoting URN 735 20/7/09, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.