POLICE are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a schoolgirl was approached by a mystery woman.

The 12-year-old girl was beckoned across Manchester Road, Burnden, by the woman who had just got out of a black, four-door car, driven by a man and which had pulled up 30 yards away.

As the youngster approached the woman, who was wearing a fur hat, she suddenly lunged at her arm but the girl, who lives in Little Lever, evaded her clutches and ran to a nearby garage to raise the alarm

Today police confirmed that, at this point, the incident was not being treated as an attempted abduction but detectives are keen to speak to the couple involved. There have been no other reports of similar incidents.

Anyone who may have seen the incident at 4.10pm on February 27 is asked to contact DC Gary Dooley at Bolton CID on 0161 856 5676.