Detectives are providing support to a British businesswoman who was allegedly raped in a luxury hotel in Egypt.

The 47-year-old woman from Basingstoke reported to police that she was attacked at 12.30am on March 6 at a hotel in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

She claimed she was sexually assaulted by a guard who was escorting her to her room.

The victim, who was flown back to the UK following the complaint, has given evidence to officers from Amberstone, Hampshire police's specialist interview team.

Detective Sergeant Matt Gillooly said: ''We are now working with the woman to evidence exactly what happened and provide support following the attack. We have a number of lines of inquiry which we are progressing.

''We are of course working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and have already notified Egyptian authorities and will present them with evidence of the assault.''

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) spokesman said: ''We are aware of an incident involving a British national and we are providing consular assistance.''

The FCO website warns travellers of a rise in such attacks in Egypt.

It says: ''Reports of cases of sexual assault against British nationals have increased during and since the unrest of early 2011.

''In 2012, the FCO handled 23 cases of sexual assault and six cases of rape. Some assaults were against minors. Many occurred in what were considered to be safe places such as hotels.''