US rapper Nelly arrested after woman claims he raped her on tour bus

US rapper Nelly has been arrested after a woman claimed he raped her on a tour bus.

Authorities in Washington said that a woman called police in the early hours of Saturday morning and claimed she had been sexually assaulted by the artist, real name Cornell Haynes, on a tour bus in Seattle.

The 42-year-old musician, who had just been performing at the White River Amphitheatre in the area, was arrested and taken into custody less than an hour later.

A statement from the Auburn Police Department, read: "At 3.48am a female called 911 to report that she was sexually assaulted by a male, who is known as the rapper Nelly.

"The alleged assault was reported to occur on the tour bus that was parked at the listed location. Nelly had performed at the White River Amphitheatre just hours before.

"After Patrol Officers investigated the incident, at 4.37 AM Nelly was taken into custody and booked at the SCORE jail facility.

"Auburn Police are continuing to investigate this incident."

On the evening of his show, the Dilemma singer Tweeted: "Anytime you feel like the whole world is against you you need to scratch that s*** its really you against the whole world because the whole world don't know you exist."

Nelly is due to perform at various venues in the UK in November.