Police are investigating reports that a man was raped by two strangers.

The incident was just one of three sex attacks reported to police in Brighton and Hove yesterday.

The man said he was attacked by two tall men after getting out of a taxi in Kemp Town, at about 4am.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “He had shared a taxi from Hove with a female friend and had been dropped off in St James Street at about 4am.

“He got out of the taxi just down the road from Boots and as he crossed the road he was grabbed by two men who dragged him into Broad Street.

“Both of the suspects then ran off down Broad Street towards the seafront.”

The two attackers were both described as black and in their mid-20s to 30s.

The first was 6ft 4in, with a small goatee beard. He was wearing a flat peak cap, a black cloth-style coat, black jeans and white Nike jogging-style trainers.

The second man was 6ft 7in, of muscular build and wearing a shiny black puffa jacket.

Detective Inspector Mark Cullimore said: “The circumstances are very unusual, but it is important that we establish exactly what happened as soon as possible.”

A 20-year-old woman was dragged off the street and into bushes during a frightening attempted sexual assault in Portslade at about the same time.

The tourist was walking home from a night out when a man she had met on a bus ran at her and pulled her off the road.

The suspect had tried to talk to the woman on a bus from Churchill Square just after 4am.

She got off at Portslade station and was passed by the man as she turned down Old Shoreham Road. He then grabbed her and held her leg.

He ran off when the woman told him to let go.

DI Cullimore said: “This was very disturbing for this young visitor to the UK. Fortunately, she managed to escape her attacker, but it is very important that we find this man.”

The woman remembers that he was holding a bottle of wine and is described as black, about 30, 6ft, with short, curly, black hair and a moustache.

About an hour earlier, a Good Samaritan helped a 26-year-old woman who was sexually assaulted in Dyke Road, Brighton.

The “self-assured” attacker grabbed her and sexually assaulted her before walking away.

The woman took off her shoes so she could get away from him quicker but as she passed BHASVIC he grabbed her for a second time on the arm before threatening her.

She ran to a passer-by who called the police. The suspect then fled.

He was described as white, aged 18-25, about 5ft 10in, and was wearing glasses, a maroon hooded top, jeans and plimsolls.

Inspector Julie Wakeford said: “This was a very alarming experience, but thankfully the victim was able to alert the passer-by who reacted very quickly.”

Anyone with any information on any of the incidents should call Sussex Police on 101.