PREDATORY men who groom under-age girls for sex by showering them with gifts have been targeted in a police operation.

Yesterday police arrested three men as part of Operation Flame, which is being run across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

The aim of the operation was to disrupt the activities of men suspected of involvement in child sexual exploitation, which commonly involves teenage girls being offered gifts and other rewards for taking part in sexual acts.

Officers said two of the men arrested are alleged to have let a teenage girl stay with them without gaining her parents’ permission.

Last night all three men were in police custody awaiting questioning by detectives while their homes were being searched.

DS Mick Cross, of the Public Protection Team, said: “Child sexual exploitation is an extremely serious offence and all allegations in Pennine Division are thoroughly investigated by specialist officers from our multi-agency Freedom Team.”

Four years ago the Lanc-ashire Telegraph launched the pioneering Keep Them Safe campaign, to bring vital help to children who were being lured by predators who lavished gifts on them in return for sex.

Keep Them Safe played a key role in spurring on the authorities to step up their crackdown on the abusers and help for their victims.

Since that time, the Engage team has grown to include not only police, but social workers, the NHS and a range of agencies.

DS Cross said: “Where necessary we make arrests, but we also work closely with other agencies to provide a package of help and support to victims and their families, and with local communities to raise awareness of the issue and encourage people with information to come forward. Offenders should be under no illusions.

"We will target those who engage in this form of criminal activity and aim to put them before the courts.”

Following the swoops yesterday, a man from Burns Street, Burnley, was arrested on suspicion of four counts of sexual activity with a child.

In addition, two other men from Chapelhouse Road, Nelson, and Sefton Street, Brierfield, were arrested on suspicion of abduction under S2 of the Abduction Act.