POLICE are investigating after a 20-year-old man suffered a sex attack by two women.

Detectives said the man, who was playing pool at the Duke of Albany pub in Washington, Wearside, was attacked and knocked unconscious.

He regained consciousness to find one woman sexually abusing him.

The man left the pub with friends at 10.30pm, but was followed and knocked unconscious close to Albany Post Office car park.

It is believed he had been hit on the head from behind.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, then struggled to nearby Concord, where he contacted police at 11.30pm last Tuesday.

Two women, aged 50 and 29, were taken into custody at Washington police station.

They were released on police bail after being questioned by detectives about the alleged indecent assault.

The man's stepmother, who had been comforting his family, said: "It is an absolutely horrible, horrible thing to happen and he is confused and traumatised."

Detective Inspector Terry McNamara, of Washington CID, said the area had been cordoned off so that the scene could be contained for a forensics examination.

He said: "The injured person is a 20-year-old male and the two women taken into custody."