A teenager was raped and assaulted by four men during a "horrendous attack" in a public park.

The 18-year-old victim was sitting on a bench on her own near the Broadway, in Didcot, shortly before midnight on Friday when she was approached by the group who offered to walk her home.

They set off towards Manor Park, a local recreation ground off Britwell Road, where she was then allegedly pushed to the ground and raped by one of the group and sexually assaulted by others in the gang. They ran off and police were called at 1.20am.

A police inquiry was immediately launched, and the park was cordoned off while forensic invesigators searched for further evidence.

Police, after interviewing the woman, say the men are believed to be of east European origin.

Didcot town mayor Mike McNulty told the Oxford Mail yesterday that he was "appalled and horrified" at the attack.

He said: "We have to hope that the police act quickly to apprehend these people as soon possible and that the full weight of the law is brought to bear to get them behind bars.

"Obviously Didcot in the past has had anti-social problems, but this is of a different magnitude entirely.

"This was an horrific and vicious attack on a young woman."

Yesterday, a team of officers were carrying out door-to-door inquiries in the area while local CCTV footage was being scanned to try and pinpoint the people responsible.

Kate Smith, a spokesman for Thames Valley Police, said: "This kind of attack is extremely rare and it was a particularly horrendous attack on a young woman."

The teenager suffered bruises to her back, but did not need hospital treatment.

Det Sgt Alan Clements , who is leading the investigation, appealed for anyone who may have seen the incident to come forward.

He said: "We are following up every line of inquiry, but if you witnessed the attack or saw the men prior to it then please get in touch immediately."

One of the attackers is described as being 5ft 11ins and of skinny build, around 40 years old, with short cropped dark brown hair. He was wearing a plain dark T-shirt, blue jeans, amd a belt with a metal buckle.

Another was around 5ft 8ins, of average build and aged about 20 years old, with short shaved dark brown hair and big eyebrows. He was said to have been wearing a white stripey T-shirt and dark jeans.

One of the other alleged attackers was described as being of stocky build, around 35 years old and 5ft 8ins tall, with short brown hair and wearing a T-shirt and light jeans.

The fourth man was younger, about 20 years, of skinny build and 5ft 6ins stall, with brown spiky hair and wearing a T-shirt.

Det Sgt Alan Clements, leading the investigation, said: "We are following up every line of inquiry, but if you witnessed the attack or saw the men prior to to it, then please get in touch immediately.

"The incident happened sometime between 11.50pm and 1.20am.

"If you were in the area, please consider whether you saw anything which may help our inquiry."

Ds Clements can be contacted via 08458 5055505, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.