Teenagers raped by beach gang

Three teenage girls were raped by a 15-strong gang of Asian youths - some as young as 11 - after being followed by them for an hour.

The girls, two 15-year-olds and one of 14, were verbally abused by the gang of 11 to 17 year-olds in Southend on Friday evening. They sought refuge in a public lavatory, but when they emerged the gang followed and forced them behind a kiosk near the beach. All three girls were sexually assaulted and raped.

Police believe the gang may have fled on a train after the attack, described by a police spokeswoman as "vicious and disturbing".