A MAN tried to kidnap a four-year-old girl at the corner of Durham Road and Church Street, in Blackpool.

He approached a group of women, which included the little girl and her auntie, at 7.30pm on February 26 and asked if any of them "had a light". When the group replied "no", the man distracted the aunt's attention and grabbed the girl by the arm as he tried to pull her away from the group.

A struggle then took place resulting in the girl being dragged to the floor. The man then let go of the child.

The group and the girl ran into a nearby tanning shop for safety. The assailant was heard to say "I didn't mean to hurt her. I didn't mean to make her cry." After a short time the man left.

He is described as being between 20 and 25 years of age, approximately 5ft 5ins tall and clean shaven with short, dark ruffled hair.

He was wearing a waist-length hooded coat and light blue jeans and was carrying a blue and white holdall or rucksack.