Five women have been targeted by what police fear is a gang of sex attackers who have raped three female victims in the past week, detectives said today.

The five women - the youngest just 15 - have been approached while out alone in the early hours of the morning in the centre of Northampton, police said today. Three were raped but two, including the young teenager, managed to flee from the men, who are thought to work in unison to abduct their victims.

The attackers are described as tall, black men with South African accents who were driving a blue BMW car and a light-coloured Fiat Punto for some of the attacks.

Detective Chief Inspector John Jones of Northamptonshire Police’s Homicide and Major Crime Team, said a squad of ten officers were working with the

National Crime Squad to track down the men. Mr Jones added: "We are keeping an open mind about the incidents, whether they are linked or not. "It is reasonable to assume there is a certain amount of premeditation - with a group of three there has got to be some premeditation in what they have done. There is a chance they could be copycat crimes."

None of the women appeared to have been targeted prior to their attack and none was robbed. One woman, the latest victimwho was found in the early hours of yesterday morning, had been hit over the head.

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