Shocking CCTV footage has been released of the moment a woman was led by the hand to a quiet street near London's busy Covent Garden where she was gang raped.

The 34-year-old woman had been out with friends in the area popular for its bars and restaurants and was making her way home.

As she walked down Greek Street around 12:15am on March 20 she was approached by three Asian men.

Footage showed one holding her hand and leading her along the street with the other two following separately at a short distance behind.

The men led her to a secluded area of Slingsby Place, where at least two of them raped her.

The street, which runs between Jamie's Italian and SUDA Thai Cafe, is also a busy nightlife spot, and police have released CCTV footage in a bid to catch the suspects.