Girl claims she was raped at Manchester United Christmas party

The 26-year old woman called 999 claiming she had been sexually assaulted at a luxury hotel where the squad were entertaining 100 "gorgeous girls."

The alleged 4am incident was said to have occurred after the players visited a lap dancing club in Manchester only to leave within a minute when they realised they had been spotted.

The team had invited the women - including models - as guests to their private party at the Great St John Street Hotel in Manchester after WAGS were ordered to stay away.

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The £395 a night hotel had been closed off to the public whilst the players partied until dawn. Boss Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to have given a reluctant blessing to the party but had warned the players to be on their best behaviour.

The woman will be fully interviewed and invited to give a statement after she is examined at a rape crisis centre at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester. She was believed to have made a complaint to officers before being allowed home to sleep.

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Officers were searching the building for evidence and the hotel remained closed to the public.

One guest said: "A lot of the players were really letting their hair down and really enjoying themselves in a big way.

"Lots of drink was flowing and there were a lot of the girls there simply trying to bag a footballer for the night. It was all very very sleazy. I'm just glad none of the WAGS were there. They would have been horrified."

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A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "Police are currently investigating a report of rape at a hotel in Manchester city centre.

"At about 4.15am on Tuesday 18 December 2007, police were called to the hotel on Great John Street to a report that a 26-year-old woman had been raped.

"Inquiries are continuing."

The dramatic news came after the players went on a marathon 13-hour drinking session to mark their annual knees up.

Earlier in the evening the entire first team - including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs - were joined by new players like Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez, Portuguese international Nani, Brazilian ace Anderson and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves at a Manchester strip club.

The only notable absentee was United's star Portuguese international, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had to offer his apologies in order to attend the FIFA World Player Award ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

The party must have been quite an eye-opener for the new boys when two drag queens turned up along with five burlesque dancers at the end of their meal inside Manchester 235 Casino.

The cross-dressing duo and the feather-boa-sporting dancers performed a routine for the 35 players gathered for lunch at the private party at the 235Live room, based inside the Great Northern Warehouse.

Greater Manchester Police today confirmed a woman had made a complaint of rape at the five star boutique star hotel just a stones throw from the Granada studios in Manchester.

The team had decided against fancy dress favoured by rivals and stuck with straight shirt and trousers.

But they put on their grimmest expressions as their arrived at their annual players only party - a day after the squad beat Liverpool 1-0 in a vital Premiership clash.

Footballers Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs barely raised a smile as they arrived in a team coach for Christmas lunch at the Linen restaurant at the exclusive Manchester 235 casino.

Goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak raised a V for victory sign but still looked down in the dumps as he walked into the venue.

The expressions of other team-mates including Michael Carrick, Gary Neville and Wes Brown got on-lookers dubbing them "Grumpchester United."

One fan said: "You would have thought the guys would have been all sweetness and light given that it is Christmas - yet most of the players looked as miserable as sin.

"Anyone with their fame and fortune would have plenty to smile about - but it appears not these guys.

"Half of them looked decidedly down in the dumps. Perhaps Fergie had just given them the hairdryer treatment for an old times sake."

Most of the players tucked into a £19.50 set meal of "home cured" salmon followed by roast turkey with apricot and pistachio stuffing and completed with a dessert of baked white cheesecake.

It was not known which wines or beers the players chose.

The party later met at the Grapes pub owned by Coronation Street actress Liz Dawn where they were overheard chanting football songs before leaving at 9.30pm.

Players Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, Anderson, John O'Shea and Danny Simpson left together in a black people carrier which arrived at Manchester's Long legs club.

But they departed within a minute when a driver said a photographer was in the area. One on-looker said: "John O'Shea and another player went into the club but left shortly afterwards.

"The other players remained in the car the whole time. It seems they didn't want to be spotted at the club."

The hotel has 30 individually designed duplex suites and features a chic lounge, cocktail bar, restaurant and rooftop garden, plus 3 function rooms. Formerly a school building it opened two years ago.

A Manchester United spokeswoman declined to comment.