Police investigate 'attempted kidnapping of nine-year-old girl' in Hereford

Police are investigating a report of an attempted abduction of a nine-year-old girl in Hereford.

The young girl was walking along Staddlestone Circle, Saxon Gate, at around 8pm on Wednesday when she was approached from behind by a man, West Mercia Police said.

The girl managed to escape unharmed and the scene was cordoned off for investigations to be carried out.

Police said it is thought the man left the scene in the direction of Ross Road in a van along with another male.

The suspects

Officers are seeking two men in connection with the investigation:

• One man is described as white, bald and clean shaven and in his 30s.

• He is thought to have been wearing a T-shirt, a red, white and black checked jacket and blue jeans.

• A second man is believed to be black with braided hair and brown eyes.

• He is thought to be around six feet tall and was described as wearing a white T-shirt, denim jacket, dark coloured jeans and brown mountain boots.

Detective Inspector Martin Taylor said he wanted to reassure the local community that incidents of this nature are "thankfully, extremely rare".

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.