TWO men have been accused of abducting two girls - one of whom claims she was later raped by a third man at a hotel.

The two latest defendants are charged with two offences of child abduction involving the girls, 12, and 14, who had both been reported missing from home.

One of the men, Farooq Ahmed, is also charged with having unlawful sexual intercourse with the 14-year-old-girl.

A third man appeared before Blackburn magistrates last month charged with raping the 12-year-old girl at the Travelodge at junction 4 of the M65 at Darwen on January 18.

Hardeep Singh, 31, of Barkby Road and Ahmed, 25, of Humberstone Road, both Leicester, were sent in custody to Preston Crown Court when they appeared before Blackburn magistrates this week.

The court heard that the defendants were staying at the Travelodge as part of their work as travelling SIM card salesmen.

The man charged with rape, Portuguese national Nelson Claudino, 26, was in this country to take part in care proceedings involving his child.

He was described in court as being "resident" at the Travelodge.

Claudino faces two charges of rape, one of anal rape, detaining a child and one of indecent assault.

Police said the girls were approached in Blackburn town centre and taken to the hotel where they were plied with Jack Daniels whisky and assaulted .