Seven Crewe Alexandra footballers held over sex attack claims

Seven Crewe Alexandra footballers have been arrested in connection with an alleged sexual assault in Cornwall.

It is understood a squad of more than 20 players were in the county at a pre-season training camp.

Police investigating the alleged assault of a woman in her early 20s in the early hours of Saturday arrested five players in Redruth. Two men were also arrested in Cheshire.

The club said it was not appropriate to comment during a police investigation.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they had received a complaint of sexual assault at 04:30 BST on Saturday over an incident alleged to have happened in a property in Redruth.

Police said the five men arrested in Cornwall were being held at custody centres in Camborne and Newquay.

The men arrested in Cheshire are also in police custody.

They were due to be brought to Cornwall to be formally interviewed, officers said.

Crewe finished 13th in League One last season and won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and are due to start the 2013-14 campaign at home to Rotherham on 3 August.