A club-goer was brutally raped, moments after being snatched from a city centre pavement.

After enjoying a night out with friends, the 24-year-old strolled to a public phone box to arrange a lift home with her boyfriend - but was instead subjected to the horrifying sex attack within yards of a busy Bradford road.

Detectives today revealed how the rapist called out to his victim by name as she climbed over a barrier in Little Horton Lane, close to the entrance of Bradford Ice Rink.

Seconds later, he grabbed and dragged her into a dimly-lit alleyway by the side of the building, opposite Omar Khan's restaurant and within sight of the Queen's Hall nightclub where she had left her friends.

The woman was then subjected to the sickening attack as another man looked on, just yards from road, but was too scared to call for help.

Police said at the time of her ordeal - shortly after midnight on Wednesday - many people would have been walking or driving in the area.

Detective Superintendent Phil Sedgwick, who is heading the investigation, appealed for these people to come forward.

He said: "After the attack, the victim remembers seeing car headlights from the alleyway. This could have been someone in the car park leaving the cinema or theatre or finishing work at the ice rink."

Detectives have since spoken to clubbers from Queen's Hall, ice rink staff and people in the immediate vicinity. They have also recovered "several articles" from the alley itself which will undergo scientific testing.

Talking of the attacker's use of his victim's name, Det Supt Sedgwick said: "He might have known her although she doesn't know him. He might have just heard someone else using her name. It would not be a difficult to do this by ear-wigging a conversation in a pub or club."

One 'distinct possibility' was that the man had followed her from the Queen's Hall.

Det Supt Sedgwick said: "This has been a terrifying ordeal for this woman who, bravely, is doing her best to give officers all the details she can."

He added: "It is a shame that someone cannot leave a nightclub in the city centre at what would be quite a busy time and go and phone for a lift home. It is surprising that someone did not come to this young woman's assistance."

The attacker is described as a light-skinned Asian, in his mid to late twenties, around 5ft 9ins tall with long black hair pulled into a pony tail. He had big dark eyes and was wearing a light grey padded fleece jacket, dark trousers and possibly Lacoste shoes. The other man was Asian, dark skinned, shorter than the other and wearing a dark woollen hat and white trainers.

Anyone who recognises them or who has information about this attack, should contact Bradford South Police on (01274) 376459.