DETECTIVES have called off a hunt for a couple seen with a small child in the boot of a car after they came forward to police.

Witnesses alerted police yesterday afternoon after they saw the child moving in the boot of the car, which had pulled into Cooke Express Service Station, in Burnley Road, Accrington.

But after a police appeal, the couple, who have not been named, came forward to explain the child had simply climbed into the boot from the back seat.

Police launched a trace for the car, a white Vauxhall Carlton which was seen at the filling station at about 2.30pm.