POLICE are appealing for help in tracing a possible kidnap victim one week after he was seen being bundled into a van outside Lee's Bakery on St Helens Road.

Shoppers watched in horror as at 12.04 pm on Friday, March 23, a burly man leapt from the passenger seat, grabbed the victim and forced him, struggling, into the vehicle through a sliding side door. The van, driven by an unseen accomplice, sped off towards Leigh town centre and turned right into Spinning Jenny way towards Chapel Street.

The victim was white, in his late teens, 5ft 8ins to 6ft tall, of slim build, with short dark hair, quite smartly dressed, possibly wearing a beige jumper and dark jacket.

His assailant was white, 6 ft tall, in his mid to late 20's of stocky build with very short dark hair, wearing a black bubble-type jacket.

Police say it could have been a harmless prank or a domestic argument but they are not ruling out an abduction. They want to hear from anyone with information or either of the men involved. Calls can be anonymous.

Phone Leigh CID on 0161 856 7253 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.