POLICE in Whitefield are investigating an incident in which a man tried to entice an 11-year-old boy into a car.

The boy was running an errand for his mother in the Victoria Lane area on Saturday teatime, when a car pulled up alongside him. The driver, who was only person in the car, asked the boy to get in it and offered him sweets. The boy refused and ran back home.

Detective Inspector Simon Collier from Whitefield CID said: "The young boy is unharmed, but clearly he and his family are shocked by the incident. Fortunately incidents like this are very rare, but it is important for parents and their children, to be aware that they can happen.

"On this occasion the boy did the right thing and ran away. It happened very quickly and the boy is attempting to provide a detailed description of the man and the car.

"We are currently viewing local CCTV but in the meantime I would ask anyone with any information to contact police at Whitefield on 0161 856 8248 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

"At this time it is believed that the man was white with short dark hair. The car was possibly a Ford saloon, with four or five doors and tinted windows."