The teenager was arrested in connection with the alleged attack on a 17-year-old girl, in a car park at the back of the town hall, in Gaol Lane.

The girl had left Vita nightclub, in East Street, just after 11pm last Wednesday, police said.

A man who had been dancing with the girl spoke to her in North Street, said police. She was then allegedly raped beneath a metal fire escape, close to public toilets on land owned by Sudbury Town Council.

Town clerk Sue Brotherwood said: "Obviously it is terrible to hear that something like this has happened and my thoughts are with the victim. You do not expect to hear of crimes like this happening anywhere in Sudbury and we were all quite shocked when we arrived on Thursday morning to see the car park full of police."

Police and forensics officers sealed the area on Thursday.

Later that day they arrested a teenager in Glemsford in connection with the incident.

He was questioned and has been bailed to return to Bury St Edmunds police station on August 19.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

They especially want anyone who had been been at Vita nightclub or in the town centre last Wednesday night, to contact them, on 01473 613500.