DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses as part of an investigation into a woman being dragged into a van.

It happened on Friday, June 5, at around 2pm when a woman, 45, has been pulled by a man into a grey Renault Panel van on Dalton Square in Lancaster.

The man then drove off whilst she was inside.

The woman managed to escape from the vehicle over an hour later, when she jumped out of the van on Cockerham Road in Garstang.

DC Ben Heap from Lancaster CID said: “This must have been a terrifying ordeal for the victim who was literally dragged against her will in to a van and driven around for over an hour before she managed to escape."

“We have charged a man in connection with this incident, however, we need anyone who thinks they saw it happen to come forward and speak to us.

“I would like to reassure the public that we believe that this was a targeted incident and there is no wider threat to local residents.”

Anyone with information can email 4152@lancashire.pnn.police.uk or can all 101 quoting incident reference 974 of June 5th.

Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.