THIS is the man police said was violently kidnapped by masked armed men from a street near Bacup.

Paul Brady, 44, was snatched from the Beaufort Road area of Weir, by a group of eight to 10 men and his whereabouts are still unknown.

Police have said they have “grave concerns” for his safety.

A major police inquiry was launched to secure his release and now officers are asking for the public’s help to find Mr Brady.

At the time of the kidnap, Mr Brady was a site manager of an exclusive housing development at Lynns Court.

Police said he had travelled to the site on August 1 to do some work on one of the houses with a friend, David Collier.

As they left the development at about 2.10pm they drove in separate vehicles along Beaufort Road.

Mr Brady, of Rochdale, was in a white Ford Connect van, registration ML04 VCE, and Mr Collier was driving a silver Mercedes 190, registration S291 CGR. Whilst in Beaufort Road their vehicles were boxed in by the kidnappers’ vehicles, a white Ford Galaxy, registration PF05BXP, and a silver Citroen Berlingo.

They are all understood to have been wearing balaclava masks and carrying weapons.

Police said they dragged Mr Brady from his vehicle and assaulted him before forcing him into one of their vehicles and driving off at high speed. They also tried to kidnap Mr Collier, but he managed to get away, officers said.

The kidnappers took Mr Brady and Mr Collier’s vehicles and they were later abandoned in a lay-by off Burnley Road East, near Clough Bottom reservoir.

Detective Supt Neil Hunter, who is leading the investigation, said: “The fact that we are appealing for help from the public in offences of this nature is extremely unusual and is therefore an indication of the grave concerns I have for Mr Brady’s safety and welfare.

“We are doing everything we can to secure his safe release but we need the communities help.

“We know that a violent attack has taken place at the time that Mr Brady was kidnapped and since that day he has not been in touch with his family and friends since that day which is extremely worrying.

“This incident happened on a Saturday afternoon in broad daylight in a quiet rural area on the outskirts of Bacup and I am particularly keen to hear from anybody who may have seen the kidnap or who saw a group of vehicles matching the descriptions leaving the scene. These vehicles may well have left the scene together and were probably travelling at speed.”

* Paul Devalda, 34, of Padiham Road, Burnley, has been charged with conspiracy to kidnap. He appeared at Burnley Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 13 where he was remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on November 11.