POLICE are hunting a gang after a second attempted child abduction in a week in the same Burnley street.

The six-year-old was approached by two men near a shop at the junction of Laithe Street and Reservoir Street, Burnley Wood at shortly before 9pm on Saturday.

The incident was the second attempted abduction in the area in less than seven days after an eight-year-old girl was approached by a man in Laithe Street last week. Police are not ruling out a link between the two incidents.

The two men involved in the incident on Saturday were challenged by a member of the public and ran off.

Detectives are now hunting a gang of four men seen in the area at the time of the incident and they are checking CCTV from the shop.

A police spokesman said: "We have had a report that two men were trying to take a boy off the street. The investigation is in its early stages but it is something we are treating very seriously.

"We are seeking to trace four men seen in the area, two of whom used the corner shop. Our inquiries are continuing."

Today the community spoke of its shock. Rosehill with Burnley Wood ward councillor Denis Otter said: "It's shocking. It's very worrying, especially for the parents. I would hope anybody who knows anything about this would contact the police with information so they can catch the people responsible."

Call police on 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.