A rape victim was photographed with mobile phone cameras as she was attacked in a pub toilet.

Men in the toilets recorded images of the rape and, police believe, may have sent the images to friends.

Police are investigating the possibility the victim was drugged.

The 27-year-old was in the Toad At The Picture House pub in East Street, Brighton, celebrating a birthday with friends.

She was approached by two men and was walked by one into a cubicle in the men's toilet.

Staff later found her in the toilets collapsed on the floor. She was incoherent, semi-conscious and partly clothed. Staff immediately called the police.

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "Inquiries have established that other men, probably not connected with the two suspects, watched the rape and it is believed some recorded it on their phones.

"Detectives want to trace any witnesses in the toilet or anyone who has knowledge of the incident.

"CCTV footage from the pub has been seized and detectives are considering releasing CCTV photographs of potential witnesses.

"Police also wish to trace three women who were seen in the men's toilets shortly after the rape."

The rapist was white, in his mid 20s, 5ft 10in with short, dark, spiky hair with hair wax on it.

He wore a long-sleeved dark shirt that may have had white lettering on the back below the collar, dark shoes and trousers.

One of the men who watched the assault was white, in his early 20s, 5ft 11in, slim with ginger or dyed blonde spiky hair. He had spots on his chin.

The attack happened on Saturday, June 7 but police only released details last night.