DETECTIVES say they have had a good response to appeals in their hunt for two rapists who attacked a 25-year-old North-East woman.

But they still need to trace a taxi driver who was unable to give the victim and her friend a lift home because they did not have enough money for the fare.

The woman had been drinking in several pubs in Middlebrough on the night of Sunday, April 25.

She and a friend were refused a lift to Sedgefield by the driver of a yellow and black cab, outside the Aruba club in Wilson Street, at about 12.45am.

Shortly afterwards, the victim accepted a lift from two men, who attacked her on the outskirts of Butterwick, near Sedgefield, and abandoned her half-naked in a field before driving off.

Detective Sergeant Jim Cunningham, who is leading the investigation, said police are following several lines of inquiry following a good response to an appeal from the victim and a poster campaign.

He said: "We are now sifting through the information provided by the callers and are following any potential leads.

"We still haven't heard from the taxi driver who pulled up outside Aruba. It's quite puzzling and disappointing that he hasn't come forward.

"I would stress again he is not a suspect in the rape, he is viewed purely as a potentially very helpful witness."

Anyone with information is asked to call Newton Aycliffe CID on (01325) 314401 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.