POLICE are hunting two men who attempted to abduct a 13-year-old boy as he delivered newspapers in the dark.

They pulled up alongside the teenager in a silver car and asked him to get into the vehicle just after 6.30pm on Saturday evening in Tarrant Road, Bournemouth.

The boy refused and walked away unharmed but police have stressed the motives of the men are not known and appealed for information from the public.

Officers said there was no physical contact and no threats were made during the incident, which appears to be a one-off.

“House-to-house inquiries have been made in the area but no other sightings of the car have been reported,” said Inspector Mike Claxton of North Bournemouth police.

“This appears to have been a one-off incident as no other reports of a similar nature at that time have been received. The motives of the men in the car are not known at this time.”

Officers were called to Tarrant Road in Muscliff at 6.33pm but there was no trace of the car, said to have contained two men. One was described as white and in his mid 20s, was wearing a dark T-shirt.

Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with information about the silver car or its occupants to call them on 101 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111. Mobile phone tariffs may apply.

The incident took place just four days after a young girl said she was followed home from Branksome Heath Middle School in Poole. The girl said she had been followed along Livingstone Road and Churchill Road.

Dorset Police said they had received a report of a man acting strangely in the vicinity of the school at around 5.30pm on Tuesday, November 6.