Four men came forward today as police investigated a rape in a pub toilet which was recorded by witnesses using video phones.

Several men were in the toilets when a 27-year-old woman was assaulted and left lying on the floor, half-naked and barely conscious.

Detectives think the witnesses may have recorded the rape in the belief they were watching an amorous couple.

The four contacted Brighton police hours after we published an appeal for information.

The woman had been celebrating a friend's birthday at the Toad At The Picture House pub in East Street, Brighton, when she was approached by two men who led her away to the cubicle.

Pub staff found her collapsed on the floor minutes later and called the police. Officers believe she may have been drugged before the attack.

The victim has told officers she remembers nothing of the attack. It is thought she did not know her assailant.

Detective Inspector Peter Laverick said the rapist was "extremely callous and a danger to women".

The attack happened on Saturday June 7. Mr Laverick defended his decision not to issue the warning to women until last night, ten days later.

He said: "I decided that releasing details to the Press would have prejudiced other lines of inquiry which I felt gave us a better chance of catching the culprit."

Mr Laverick said releasing details any earlier might also have given the media and the public "misleading information".

A spokesman for pub owners Eldridge Pope said the company was co-operating fully with the investigation.

He said: "The management, staff and company are all deeply shocked at the incident and their first concern is for the wellbeing of the young lady. They hope she quickly recovers from the trauma of this terrible ordeal.

"All the staff on duty that night have volunteered to assist the police to ensure that those concerned are brought to justice as quickly as possible.

"The company has also offered the police its full assistance, including providing them with CCTV footage to help with their inquiries."

The spokesman said the club had five members of its door staff on duty on the night of the rape.

He said: "They monitored all activities within the bar and would have checked the toilets every 15 minutes. It was during one of these checks they discovered the young lady."

This morning police were viewing CCTV footage from the pub and trying to track down other witnesses, including three women seen in the toilets shortly after the attack.

The rapist was white, in his mid-20s, 5ft 10in with short dark spiky hair. He wore a long-sleeved dark shirt, dark shoes and trousers.

One of the men who watched the assault was white, in his early 20s, 5ft 11in and slim with ginger or dyed blond spiky hair. He had spots on his chin and wore a distinctive green or black paisley patterned shirt, dark trousers and dark shoes.

Anyone with any information about the attack should contact Brighton and Hove CID on 0845 6070999.