A 17-YEAR-OLD girl was dragged to an open area by two men and raped on Sunday.

The victim had become involved in an argument with the men after one of them asked her for a cigarette as she walked home past Silkeys Lane and West Percy Road in North Shields at 11.30pm.

One of the men grabbed her round the waist and dragged her to a grassed area, where he raped her. Both men then walked off towards Churton Garage.

One was 25 to 30, 5ft 6in and stocky. The attacker was older and wore a Puffa-style jacket.