POLICE have appealed for information after a teenager was allegedly subjected to a serious sexual assault.

The 17-year-old girl left Yates's Wine Bar, in North Road, at 11pm, on Friday, looking for toilets, and was attacked in an alley off North Road, Durham City, on Friday.

A Durham police spokesman said: "What happened over the next three hours is at this stage uncertain, but what is known is that the victim was helped into a taxi at about 2am, outside the Rajpooth Indian Restaurant, in Claypath."

The attacker is thought to be in his early 20s, 5ft 7in tall, and was wearing a white polo shirt with green trim and black trainers.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw the girl, who has dark hair with red streaks, and from the people who helped her into the taxi.

Anyone with information should call the police on 0191-386 4222 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555111