POLICE have issued an appeal to track down a man in connection with a city centre rape inquiry.

Officers want to know the whereabouts of Mahad Hussein after a 24-year-old woman was raped in Ship Street in Brighton in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

They say the 22-year-old from London has links to Brighton and east London and “could have information to help with the investigation”.

He is black, with short hair and a beard.

Police closed the alley between Fatface and Cafe Coho while the scene was investigated on Tuesday.

Anyone with information about Mr Hussein, or with information about the case is asked to report it on the Sussex Police website or call 101 and quote 141 of 15.01.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.