TWO boys from Afghanistan have been placed in the care of social services after being found wondering the street of Blackburn.

The boys, aged eight and nine, were said to be flagging down cars in Preston Old Road in an attempt to get a lift in to Blackburn town centre at around 12pm on Wednesday.

They were taken to Greenbank Police Station, before being placed in to the care of social services.

The police could not say how they had ended up in Blackburn, where they had come from, where they were trying to get to or where their parents were.

But they did confirm the boys, who are believed to be brothers, were alone when they had been picked up by officers.

A police spokesman said: "At shortly before 12pm on Wednesday, August 17, we were called to a report from a resident who was concerned for an eight-year-old boy and a nine-year-old boy who were trying to flag down traffic in Preston Old Road, Blackburn.

"The boys, who appeared to be from Afghanistan, were taken to a place of safety and are now in the care of social services.

It is believed the boys were heard to say 'please, please, Afghanistan'.

The boys, who did not speak English, were said to be in good health.

A Good Samaritan bought them a drink while they waited for the police to arrive.

The boys were found close to the Three Arches service station in Preston Old Road.

Nobody from the station was available for comment.

Anyone with information can call police on 101, quoting 496 of Aught 17.