A man told paramedics he had been raped in an alleyway near an Essex nightclub.

An ambulance was called in the early hours of Friday morning and paramedics notified the police.

Police arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of rape at around 6.40am.

The suspect remains in custody for questioning.

A man told paramedics he had been raped in an alleyway near a Chelmsford, Essex nightclub. An ambulance was called in the early hours of Friday morning

Officers made enquiries at the scene in Chelmsford and reviewed CCTV footage before making the arrest.

Shop workers and residents woke up to discover a police cordon in place near a bin yard behind the Bar&Beyond nightclub in the city centre.

At around midday, two police officers were seen standing guard at the scene.

Witnesses in the area said that at least three police cars and forensics teams were spotted.

Ashfaq Ahmed, 46 who works at a nearby snack shop, said: 'I came to open the shop this morning [Friday] at about 10.30am and saw the tape and a police forensics van parked by it.

Shop workers and residents woke up to discover a police cordon in place near a bin yard behind the Bar&Beyond nightclub in the city centre

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of rape at around 6.40am. The suspect remains in custody for questioning

'It is so bad that things are happening so close to my shop.

'I was asking the police and people what had happened, but they couldn't tell me'.

Shop owner Darren Harris, 46, said: 'I came past this morning [Friday] and saw three police cars and a forensics van.

'I thought it was odd because there were no police about telling people to stay away.

'The area they cordoned off is the back of Bar&Beyond.'

A statement from Essex Police reads: 'We were called by the ambulance service at around 4.55am today, Friday, August 9, after a man told paramedics that he had been raped in an alleyway off Baddow Road, Chelmsford.

'We made enquiries at the scene and reviewed CCTV before arresting a 25-year-old man at around 6.40am on suspicion of rape. He remains in custody for questioning.

'Anyone with information or dash cam footage is asked to call our Major Crime Time on 101 quoting crime quoting crime reference 42/127440/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.'

A spokesperson for Bar&Beyond said: 'As this is an ongoing police investigation, all we can confirm is that the alleged incident is not linked to our venue.'