Arrests over cemetery sex attack

Two men have been arrested over a sex attack on 24-year-old woman in a cemetery on Merseyside.

The woman had been out in the area of Bakers Bar, Southport, and then made her way to Duke Street cemetery on Thursday where she was assaulted.

Merseyside police said they have arrested two men, aged 28 and 32, both from Southport, on suspicion of rape.

A police spokeswoman said the arrests followed a "high visibility" operation close to the scene.

Police patrols

The victim has been left "severely traumatised", police said.

She was seriously injured and remains in hospital.

Police patrols have been stepped up throughout Southport town centre and officers will be visiting clubs, pubs and bars in the town over the weekend.

Det Ch Insp Nikki Holland said: "This woman has been left severely traumatised by her ordeal.

"It was a dreadful thing to have happened and she is finding it difficult to come to terms with it."