A RAPE investigation has been launched after a woman was attacked by two men in Essex today.

A RAPE investigation has been launched after a woman was attacked by two men in Essex today.

The 29-year-old woman was raped in Central Park, Chelmsford, in the early hours of the morning after meeting two men during a night out.

Minutes later, the distraught victim flagged down a motorist on Parkway, who then contacted police shortly after 4.30am.

Detectives have sealed off a small area of grassland in the park and have been carrying out forensic examinations.

It has emerged the woman had been enjoying a night out in the town and was seen leaving a bar with two men and heading towards the park.

She is now helping detectives piece together the evening's events.

Police are also studying CCTV footage in a bid to identify the two men and have appealed for witnesses to contact them as soon as possible.

The officer in charge of the case, Detective Chief Inspector Tracy Hawkings, said it was not a random attack.

She said: “We have got two main points of appeal for people to think about.

“Firstly, we know that the woman was enjoying a night out at one of the town's bars and left with two men when she headed towards the park.

“We would like to identify and arrest these two individuals.

“Secondly, the park is likely to have been virtually empty between 3am and 4am, but anyone who was there would have witnessed or heard the attack. We would like them to contact us.”

The two attackers were white and in their 20s.

Det Ch Insp Hawkings added: “Early indications suggest these two men knew the woman after meeting her in a bar and so this was not a random, opportunist attack.

“Again, we would urge everyone to think about personal security when on their own in town.”

Anyone with information should contact detectives in Chelmsford on 01245 491212.