POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a middle-aged man tried to entice into an 11-year-old boy into his car outside a Blackburn burger restaurant.

The boy escaped uninjured after the man tried to grab him and he was able to run off to safety.

Police believe the man may have been acting suspiciously in the area on previous occasions but do not know what the motive for the attempted abduction was. The incident happened at 4.45pm on Sunday near the Burger King restaurant at Grimshaw Park.

The man police are looking for is described as white, aged about 50, and clean-shaven with scruffy dark hair. He was wearing glasses, a white shirt, multi-coloured waistcoat, scruffy blazer, and dark trousers and shoes. Detective Sergeant Mark Evans said the man tried to grab the boy and entice him towards a car. The boy was able to run off.

He appealed for anyone who had seen or heard anything suspicious, or who recognised the description of the man, to contact Blackburn CID.

He added: "We would also like to hear from anyone who might have seen a man acting suspiciously in the area on previous occasions.

"And we want to emphasise to parents the need to tell their children about the dangers of talking to strangers."

Anyone with information should ring Blackburn CID on 01254 353569 or 353571.