Student raped in toilet of Lancaster Sugarhouse nightclub
A female student has been raped in a toilet cubicle while on a night out in Lancaster, police have said.
The 18-year-old was confronted by a man in the ladies' toilets of Lancaster University's nightclub The Sugarhouse at about 00:30 BST on Tuesday.
Police said as the victim came out of the toilet she was pushed back into the cubicle and raped, before fending off her attacker and raising the alarm.
Det Insp Andy Hulme said it had been a "distressing ordeal" for the student.
The Sugarhouse on Sugar House Alley in the city centre is owned and run by Lancaster University's student union.
Mr Hulme said there had been "around 1,400 people at the club and we are appealing for anybody with any information about this incident to come forward".
"I specifically want to speak to any women who remembers a man walking into the ladies' toilets, who saw a man in there, or who heard any shouting.
"If any men were in the ladies' loos for any accidental reason, we would also like them to come forward."
He added that the woman was "being supported by specially trained officers and we will continue to offer her support for as long as she needs it".