PARTYGOERS could be key witnesses in a rape investigation, detectives said last night.

As officers continue to hunt for a man who dragged a 19-year-old woman to the ground and attacked her on Friday night, they called on people at two nearby parties to get in touch.

Stressing that they are not suspects, Det Insp Simon Morton said: “There was a group of people in a flat nearby having a party and we are keen to speak to them to see if they have anything of interest to tell us.

“They had spilled out on to the street and were having a good time and they might have seen the suspect.”

The teenager was raped some time after 11pm by a man described as black, of medium build and about 5ft 6ins tall. He was wearing white clothing.

The victim did not know her attacker.

Police teams are carrying out house-to-house enquiries and working on “several promising lines of inquiry”.

Key to these could be the man’s outfit.

DI Morton said: “It is very distinctive clothing – white top, white trousers, white shoes – he would stand out in the dark.”

Call DI Morton on 08548 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.