POLICE have launched a hunt for a couple after a small child was seen in the boot of a car in a service station.

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

The witnesses said they saw a man open the car boot after filling the car with petrol.

There was also a women passenger on the front seat and two more children sitting in the back of the car.

Police say they are becoming increasingly concerned about the incident and are trying to trace the car, a white Vauxhall Carlton, registration E595 JCX, which was seen at the filling station at about 2.30pm.

Police have been unable to trace the owner of the vehicle, which was sold recently.

Det Insp Steve Ashley, of Accrington CID, said: "We are becoming increasingly concerned following an incident at Cooke Express Service Station when on Sunday afternoon a car was seen leaving the filling station with what appeared to be a small child in the boot.

"So far we have been unable to trace the vehicle and there may be a perfectly innocent explanation, however, we are appealing to the owners of the car to contact us as a matter of urgency."

Det Insp Ashley can be reached at Accrington CID on 01254 353741.