A gang of five men sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl on Brighton beach.

The teenager, an overseas language student, was said to be in a hysterical emotional state following her ordeal.

She was today being given counselling by care workers and offered support by family liaison officers as she recounted some of her story to police.

Officers do not yet have a full statement from her as they are being careful not to cause more distress.

However, police have released some details in an effort to trace anyone who may have seen the men on Brighton seafront at the time of the assault.

She was attacked on the beach opposite the Brighton Centre sometime between 10pm Tuesday and 1.45am yesterday.

A police spokeswoman said: "This is as much information as we have got at the moment.

"The victim is still at our victim support centre and we will have to wait until we have a full statement, which is why the time given is so broad.

"We are interviewing her as patiently as we can."

In her initial interview, the girl told officers all the five men were black but she has only been able to give detailed descriptions of two of them so far.

One is described as 18 to 20 years old, about 5ft 10in, with a crew-cut hair style and a muscular build. He was wearing a long-sleeve jumper, which had a ripped sleeve and baggy tracksuit trousers.

The other was 18 to 19 years old, 5ft 6in, and was wearing a red, hooded jumper and light-coloured trousers or shorts.

Police will be speaking to her in more detail today.