- Girls approached by men in vehicle on Oldhams Estate in Sharples, Bolton
- Police say men demanded that the girls got into their Ford Connect vehicle
- But terrified pair ran off, hid in a nearby bush and dialled 999 on Sunday
- Police trying to trace Ford Connect van with a black roof or black roof rack
Two schoolgirls hid in a bush to escape from two men who were trying to bundle them into a white van in broad daylight, police say.
The girls aged about 15 were approached by the men in the vehicle on the Oldhams Estate in the Sharples area of Bolton at about 10.20am last Sunday.
Greater Manchester Police claim the men demanded that the girls got into their Ford Connect vehicle – but the terrified pair ran off and hid in a nearby bush.
Greater Manchester Police were called to Wilkinson Road in the Oldhams Estate in the Sharples area of Bolton at about 10.20am last Sunday to reports of an attempted abduction
The girls escaped unharmed before dialling 999 and police are now trying to trace a white Ford Connect van with a black roof or black roof rack.
On Wednesday, officers were going door-to-door in the area close to Wilkinson Road to reassure residents and gather information about the incident.
One resident said officers called at her house and told her the girls were aged about 15. It is believed the teenagers were nearing the end of the street at the time.
Local resident George Manning, 75, said: ‘It is a quite lovely neighbourhood. We get a few incidents, Friday night and that sort of thing, but on the whole it is a nice and peaceful area.I can’t believe something like this happened on a Sunday morning.’
The girls escaped from the men unharmed in the area (pictured) before dialling 999 and police are now trying to trace a white Ford Connect van with a black roof or black roof rack
Councillor Paul Wild, who represents the local Astley Bridge ward, said: ‘It is very concerning. That is awful. I think the message is to be extra vigilant and don’t go near any vehicles if someone beckons you to come over.
‘Any person would be concerned about it. People should report anything suspicious to the police. If this happened at 10am on a Sunday morning, it shows it could happen at any time. Sunday morning is a time you should feel completely safe.’
Liberal Democrat campaigner Warren Fox, who lives nearby and heard about the incident, said: ‘It is concerning. I hope it is just a miscommunication.
‘But if it is something more sinister I hope that people would report it if they saw anything. These people are still out there.’
A police spokesman has been contacted for comment by MailOnline today.