DETECTIVES were last night examining CCTV footage after two men committed a horrifying sexual assault on a young man in a North Yorkshire market town.

And there were calls for improved security after it emerged that street lights which illuminate the entrance and exits to Bullamoor Park, in Northallerton, where the assault took place, had been switched off to save money.

The attack happened in the early hours of the morning, shortly after lighting to the park was turned off as part of a money-saving exercise by North Yorkshire County Council.

The traumatised victim, who is in his twenties, told police the ordeal only came to an end when his assailants were frightened by a loud noise and ran away.

Afterwards, the victim managed to make his way to the nearby Friarage hospital where staff raised the alarm.

Police have appealed for help in finding the attackers and have particularly asked for information about a man seen on CCTV entering and leaving the park.

Worried residents who live nearby said they were seriously concerned about safety because the area is so dark and have called for the street lights, which are turned off from midnight, to be switched back on, as well as extra police patrols.

Detectives said they believed the attack was an isolated incident, but have warned residents to be mindful for their safety and report anything suspicious.

The attack happened between 2am and 4am yesterday morning, February 17.

Detective Inspector Fiona Wynne, of Northallerton CID, said the victim was deeply distressed and was being supported by specially-trained officers.

Det Insp Wynne said police want to speak to a man seen on CCTV at about 3.30am leaving the entrance to Bullamoor Park at the Bullamoor road entrance. He walked towards the Forum car park before returning ten minutes and walking back into the park. He is described as white in his fifties, wearing dark clothing.

She added: “If you are that man or know of him, please come forward as you may have seen or heard something that will be of value to the enquiry.

"I would ask anyone who was in the area around the time of this incident, if they have not yet already contacted the police, to do so as soon as possible. Perhaps you heard a loud bang and looked out of your window? Did you see the victim or perhaps two males running from the scene? Any information, may help to put the pieces of the jigsaw together.”

Local residents said they knew nothing until they got up and saw the area had been cordoned off by police.

Tracy Burns of Dene Road, a cul de sac which runs straight into the park, said:“It really is shocking, you don’t expect this to happen on your doorstep. But it is extremely dark round here on a night since they turned the street lights off overnight. They really need to be turned back on.

“I have five children aged from 12 to 17 and I won’t be letting them go anywhere near the park. We could really do with more police patrols and maybe CCTV in the park area.”

Neighbour Val Girgan, 61 who has lived in Dene Road for 35 years added:”I really can’t believe it, you do not know who is about and what they are capable of doing. We really need the lights turning back on, it’s so dark overnight here. I won’t let my grandchildren go anywhere near the park at night, it just doesn’t seem safe.”

North Yorkshire County Council switches off up to 60 per cent of street lights between midnight and 5am as part of an energy reduction programme. In 2013/14 the authority's bill for street lighting was £2.1m.

The authority considered crime, disorder and road safety issues before decisions on which lights to turn off were made.

It has pledged to keep the scheme under review and respond to any alert by the police to rises in relevant crime in areas where part-time night lighting has been introduced.

* Can you help? Contact North Yorkshire police on 101, select option two and ask for Northallerton CID.