A TEENAGE boy has been charged with raping a schoolgirl.

Detectives said they are still hunting two others in connection with the incident on Thursday night, in which a 15-year-old girl told police she had been driven around Burnley and Nelson and sexually assaulted by three men.

The 16-year-old from Nelson, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Burnley Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, charged with rape and the theft of two gold chains.

He was granted bail and will appear again at Reedley Youth Court on Monday.

Police believe the girl got into a blue Vauxhall Corsa car with three young men in the Briercliffe Road area of Burnley.

Witnesses had suggested that she had been abducted, but detectives now believe she got into the car voluntarily.

Police said they believed she was picked up last Thursday evening, and driven round for up to two hours.

Detective Inspector Derek Jones, of Burnley CID, is leading the investigation.

He said: "We are still involved in a lot of investigations into this incident and trying to find out who the people in the car were.

"We have made a lot of inquiries and spoken to a number of witnesses so that we can find out exactly what happened that night, including where the car was driven to.

"The girl is very distressed and traumatised and we are working closely with her and her family.

"I would like to reassure the public again that incidents like this are very rare and although people always need to take responsibility for their own safety, I do not think girls are in any extra danger."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.