POLICE are investigating an attempt to abduct a 16-year-old girl as she walked along a road in Bradford.

It is believed to have occurred between 7.25pm and 7.40pm on Tuesday when two 16-year-old were girls walking along North Avenue in Manningham.

The girls were approached by a white car containing three Asian men.

One of the men asked the girls to get in the car and, when they refused, he got out of the vehicle and grabbed one of the girls by the arm and tried to drag her towards the white car.

At this point, a black man approached, causing the would-be abductor to get back in the vehicle, which was possibly a white Mercedes or Audi with blacked out windows. The car then drove off.

Detective Inspector Paula Bickerdike, of Bradford District CID, said police were keen to trace the black man who may have witnessed what had happened.

"We are keen to trace this man, who is described as a black male, to establish the exact circumstances of what happened.

"It is possible he may have vital information about this incident and we would urge him to come forward."

The suspect is described as a chubby Asian male, about 5ft 5ins tall with short black hair and a long beard.

He was wearing a white jumper with a red top underneath, dark tracksuit bottoms and gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC 2432 Birch at Bradford District CID on 101, quoting crime reference 13160114452 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, who can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111.