A TEENAGER was raped as she made her way home from a nightclub last week, police said yesterday.

The 17-year-old victim was returning alone from the Escape nightclub, in Ocean Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, at about 2.30am on Friday, when she was grabbed. Her attacker pulled her into a back lane in Woodbine Street, South Shields, where she was raped.

Detective Inspector Ian Dawes, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are appealing for anyone who may have been in the area at the time, who may have seen anything, to come forward."

Detectives are studying security camera film footage taken of the area where the rape occurred.

The suspect was described as 5ft 7in, with short cropped dark brown hair, a pale skin, freckled complexion and small eyes.

He wore a short-sleeved shirt over the top of dark jeans, and dark dress shoes.