Urgent manhunt after girl, 7, ‘abducted and taken into woods’

Police release images of man they want to speak to after youngster snatched in Greater Manchester

A manhunt is underway after a seven-year-old girl was reportedly abducted and taken into woods (PA)

Police have launched an urgent manhunt after a seven-year-old girl was reportedly abducted and taken into woodland.

The youngster is believed to have been taken from Warne Avenue, Droylsden, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday afternoon.

She was reunited with her family shortly after but her suspected kidnapper has not been found.

Greater Manchester Police has issued two images of a man detectives “wish to speak to urgently”.

Police want to speak to a man who abducted a seven-year-old girl and took her into woods on Wednesday afternoon in Droylsden, Manchester (GMP/PA) (PA Media)

The force said it was called at 4pm and would maintain a large police presence in the area as the search continues.

It urged anyone who sees the man pictured to call 999.

The first image was captured moments after the reported abduction, while the second is from around 30 minutes later, police said.

In the latter, the man appears to be wearing his jacket around his waist in Gainsborough Road as he heads towards The Snipe.

A police spokesperson said: “We’re investigating the abduction of a child in Droylsden earlier today after a number of reports were made to us after 4pm this afternoon.

“Thankfully, the child – a girl aged seven – was safely re-united with her family a short time later.

“From what we know so far, we suspect the girl was taken by a man on Warne Avenue and into a wooded area nearby the disused railway track towards Manchester Road.

“A search for the man is ongoing and there is a large police presence in the area while extensive enquiries take place.”