FOUR men have been charged with child abduction after a 'distressed' young girl was allegedly found in their car in the early hours.

The men - all from the Blackburn area - were arrested as part of a special operation to protect young people.

Police said a vehicle was stopped by officers conducting a random vehicle check in Saunders Road.

Officers said the 'distressed' 15-year-old-girl was found in the back of the car at 2.40am on Thursday.

Taheer Ashiq, 26, of Audley Range; Saeed Hussain, 18, of Apple Close; Omar Sidat, 21, of Romney Walk; and Sarfaz Khaliq, 22, of Whalley New Road, have since appeared before Blackburn Magistrates' Court.

All pleaded not guilty to child abduction. The case was adjourned until June 20.

They were given bail and put on a curfew order, which prevents them leaving their homes after 7pm; were ordered to stay at their home addresses and were told to stay away from any of the witnesses in the case.

After the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Kay said: "As part of Engage, four men were arrested in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, April 10, after police officers stopped a car on Saunders Road, Blackburn.

"The men were questioned in connection with the alleged abduction of a 15-year-old local girl and they were all subsequently charged.

"Police will continue to target anyone suspected of exploiting children and anyone with information is urged to contact the police."

Engage is a multi-agency approach to dealing the problem of child exploitation, and involves members from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Brook and the drug and alcohol charity Lifeline. It succeeded a police-led campaign of the same name.

Team members pool their skills to track down possible offenders and offer support and protection to young victims and their families.

The issue has been highlighted by the Lancashire Telegraph's Keep Them Safe campaign, which called for help to combat the problem.