POLICE investigating the rape of a woman near a train station are appealing for a group of witnesses to come forward.

Detectives want to trace a group of young people aged approximately 16 to 18 who assisted a woman at around 5.30am to 6am on Sunday, January 26 in the area of Southend East train station and Ambleside Drive.

The group consisted of around five people, four male and one female, who were wearing casual clothing and hooded tops.

They called a taxi for the 21-year-old blonde woman who wearing a peach coloured dress.

Police are asking anyone who was a part of this group to contact Det Con Carol Sartain at the Rayleigh Sexual Offences Investigation Team on 101.

A 23-year-old man from Southend is currently on police bail having been arrested on suspicion of rape until March 31.