TWO men have appeared before Blackburn magistrates charged with a knifepoint abduction on Friday night.

Latif Malik, 20, of Montague Street, and Anjum Nawaz, 21, of Oozebooth Lane, both Blackburn, were sent in custody to Preston Crown Court charged with kidnapping Irfan Mohammed and witness intimidation.

Malik is also charged with three offences of assault causing actual bodily harm and one of wounding on dates in January, April and May.

Mr Mohammed, the alleged victim in the assault in January, was allegedly forced into a car in Whalley Old Road and driven to Ribchester. He was then driven back to Blackburn and left in the Dukes Brow area.