A MAN has been arrested following reports that another man was raped in Bolton town centre over last night.

Police say that the allegd incident occurred behind a pub on Deansgate in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A man in his 20s has now been arrested and is in police custody.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "Shortly before 4.20am on Sunday 23 January, an officer on patrol was approached by a man who reported he had been raped behind a pub on Deansgate, Bolton.

"A man in his 20s was arrested a short time later on suspicion of rape and he remains in custody.

"Extensive CCTV and forensic enquiries are ongoing but police aren’t looking for anyone further at this time.

"The victim suffered minor physical injuries and is being offered specialist support."

According to eyewitnesses, the area, behind Deansgate, was taped off in the early hours of Sunday morning with officers still on the scene investigating later on in the day.

By the afternoon the tape had been removed.

A spokesperson for the nearby Old Three Crowns Pub on Deansgate confirmed that the matter was unrelated to the pub and that the police investigation was confined to the area outside.

Anyone with any information should can contact police online, or by calling 101 quoting incident 611 of 23/01/2022.

Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.