NEWCASTLE United star Titus Bramble today refused to comment on claims he had been cleared of rape allegations.

Bramble and Chelsea's Carlton Cole were questioned by police investigating the alleged "gang rape" of a 17-year-old girl in a London hotel.

But they will not be charged, according to reports.

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided there is insufficient evidence to prove the teenager did not consent to sex with the players and two other men.

The girl claimed the attack took place in September at the exclusive Grosvenor House Hotel in central London.

Scotland Yard launched an investigation into the claim and interviewed United defender Bramble, 22, and Cole, 19, who is currently on loan to Charlton Athletic.

The players and two other men - party organiser Nicholas Meilke, 29, and his friend Jason Edwards, 26 - were due to answer bail next week.

But reports suggest they will be officially informed by the CPS tomorrow the case was being dropped.

No one was available from the CPS today to comment on the report and Scotland Yard would only say: "The four people remain on police bail and we await advice from the CPS."

Graham Shear, who represents Bramble and Cole, said yesterday: "We have no knowledge of this.

"We don't know when the police will be contacting us. We anticipate it will be relatively soon."

Speaking at his flat in Jesmond, Newcastle, Bramble said: "I haven't heard anything about this and I've got no comment to make."

A spokeswoman for Newcastle United said: "The club has said all along we are making no comment."

The teenager claimed she willingly had sex with one man but was then gang-raped by others on September 27.

Bramble, of Jesmond, Newcastle, and Cole, were arrested in November in connection with the alleged rape. Meikle and Edwards had previously been arrested and bailed. Detectives travelled to Tyneside in October to question players. They wanted to know what may or may not have been said in the dressing room or if there was any information which would help the investigation. Bramble has maintained his innocence throughout the inquiries. A family friend was reported as saying the teenager was furious at the decision and was planning to bring a private prosecution. But Meikle, from Catford, south London, said the allegations were "groundless". He said the girl agreed to have sex with him and then consented to sex with the other men. The investigation into the girl's claims was carried out by Scotland Yard's Operation Sapphire team, which handles sex crimes. The players were not initially identified when news of the alleged rape was first reported. Rumours about their identities flooded the internet and at one point Newcastle and England midfielder Kieron Dyer issued a statement denying his involvement. In a statement last October Dyer admitted being at the hotel with "several other people" but said other people's rooms were booked in his name. After Bramble and Cole's names emerged, lawyer Mr Shear said: "They have always maintained they have done nothing unlawful."