They say they were set upon by a group of gatecrashers during a party at a villa in the town of Pisticci in the region of Basilicata region earlier this month.

Reports in local press claim they were slapped and punched before being raped by more than one person.

Tests show both girls were drugged before the alleged attack, which went on for 15 minutes until one of the victims bit one of the men.

CCTV footage released by police showed a group of men running away from the scene, one of whom was hobbling.

Police have described the girls’ ordeal as ‘brutal and extreme’, and the pair have had to miss the start of school term as they have to stay in the country to give evidence.

One of them spent their 16th birthday there away from family and friends as she prepared for the fast-tracked trial in the nearby city of Matera.

During a closed door hearing lasting nearly 12 hours, both victims identified the eight accused men. Their lawyer Giuseppe Rago said they ‘quite clearly’ recognised the defendants.

A source at the trial told the Sun: ‘Both girls showed determination and courage as they faced the men accused of attacking them.

‘Only one spoke and she gave evidence for a long time and recounted the horror of what happened that night.’

Four of the men, aged 19 to 23, are in custody while the other half are on bail.

They deny all charges of sexual violence and wounding and insist the girls consented.

The hearing has been adjourned until tomorrow when the second girl will give evidence.