THREE kick boxing fans are being hunted by police investigating the £100,000 kidnap of a Blackburn man.

Paul Gallagher, 31, was taken from his home in Blackburn and taken to Liverpool, where police said he was held hostage for three days and threatened.

It has been alleged that he had a gun put in his mouth during the incident, which began on February 10 this year.

Officers are probing claims that Mr Gallagher's father received ransom demands.

However, police said that during the course of an exchange, officers rescued him.

They refused to confirm full details of the kidnap plot.

But it has been alleged that during the kidnap, Gallagher had a gun put in his mouth and that £100,000 was demanded from his father.

Police today took the unusual step of naming and releasing pictures of the three men Barry Tierney, Christopher Duff and Brian Burns in a bid to find them.

All three are from Liverpool but have Blackburn connections.

Four men have already been charged with kidnapping and appeared in court earlier this year.

A police spokesman said: "The investigation continues and three men are now sought.

"So far all efforts to find them have proved unsuccessful although they are almost certainly in the Merseyside area.

"Anyone with information on the whereabouts of any of these three is asked to contact Blackburn police."

Tierney, 40, has friends and relatives in the Kirkby and Knowsley area of Liverpool.

He is married and described as 6ft tall with receding grey hair and a Liverpool accent. Police said he practises martial arts and kick-boxing in the Walton area.

Duff, 36, is know around the Norris Green and Bootle areas of Liverpool.

He is six feet tall and has dark brown, cropped hair.

He has a four-inch scar on his left arm with visible stitch marks, a scar on his left brow and tattoos on his upper arms and chest.

Police said he had worked as a doorman. They added that he keeps fit at various gyms around the Liverpool area and is interested in kick-boxing and cage-fighting.

Burns, 32, is known around the Old Swan and Walton areas of Liverpool.

He is around 5ft5ins tall, with short, dark brown, receding hair and has a Liverpool accent.

Police said he had worked as a doorman and been in the Territorial Army.

He is known to have attended various gyms around the Liverpool area and has an interest in kick-boxing.

Anyone with information should call the police on 01254 51212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.