FIVE men have been arrested by police on suspicion of carry out a sex attack on a teenager.

A girl claimed she was assaulted in Colchester on Saturday by an unknown number of men.

Colchester police began searching a house in Forest Road, on the Greenstead estate, on Sunday.

Yesterday residents reported seeing officers clad in white suits examining the house, while uniformed officers were spotted carrying out evidence bags.

A resident, who did not want to be named, said: “It all started on Sunday, but the police presence was yesterday morning. A van with approximately eight officers arrived, then two more came out of the house in white suits.

“The police were then all coming out of the house with bin bags and belongings.”

Roger Grimwade, from Essex Police, confirmed the examination of the house is part of an ongoing investigation by detectives from Colchester CID into the alleged sexual assault.

He said he could not give any further details about the assault, where it happened or the girl’s age while the investigation is underway.

Five men, all aged in their early 20s and believed to be from the Colchester area, were arrested on Sunday in connection with the incident.

They were yesterday still in custody at Colchester police station, being questioned by detectives from Colchester CID.