A GANG of six men was involved in the repeated rape of a helpless deaf woman in a York graveyard, detectives have revealed today.

Officers have renewed calls for potential witnesses to come forward following the attack in the grounds of St Martin's Church in the Micklegate area in the early hours of Sunday.

Earlier this week, police issued a description of one attacker, but also wanted to speak to five other men in the area at the time.

It has since emerged that all six men took part in the 36-year-old victim's nightmare.

They were wearing dark clothing with hoods.

Detective Inspector Jon Reed, of York Police, told the Evening Press: "She has been the victim of a repeated serious sexual assault by six men who were all involved in the offence.

"She is still very shaken and just hoping we trace these people. It is causing her a lot of upset."

A police spokesman said the woman was deaf and can not speak."She was unable to shout for help," he said.

The woman was also unable to relay the horror she had just endured to a Good Samaritan who went to her aid in Micklegate shortly afterwards.

That person placed her in a taxi which already had a male passenger, and the driver took her to the Huntington Road area of the city.

"They should be able to remember the victim as she had to write down her address for the taxi driver to be understood," said DI Reed.

He said they could all hold vital information such as the time of the attack to help narrow the investigation.

"It is a very serious offence and we are pulling out all the stops to trace them. But we need the assistance of the public," he said.

The woman had been drinking in the Reflex bar on Saturday night before leaving with a man.

The attack is believed to have happened between 1am and 4am when people will have been making their way home from their night out.

Enquiries are still being made with taxi firms while investigators are painstakingly studying City of York Council CCTV and security footage from local premises.

Officers also hope to step up patrols in the Micklegate area this Saturday night to ask people whether they saw or heard anything suspicious.

But appeals for help from people in the area, such as late-night revellers at Reflex who may have unwittingly seen something, have been unsuccessful.

A dedicated incident telephone line has been set up to take calls about the attack.

Anyone who was in Reflex, or in the area of Micklegate, George Hudson Street and St Martin's Lane between 9pm on Saturday and 6am on Sunday should phone police on 01609 768111.

Updated: 10:07 Friday, November 18, 2005