DETECTIVES are appealing for information after they received a number of calls about three incidents involving a man, a woman, and a blue van.

At around 3.30pm on August 1 police received a call that a woman was being prevented from getting out of a van by a man on the East Lancashire Road in Lowton. The van was a Blue Toyota Hiace, with the Irish registration 01TN284

Later that day at 4.55pm, the same vehicle was seen near Sainsbury's on Parsonage Way, in Leigh, when it is believed the same woman was being assaulted and stopped from leaving the van again.

At 5.45pm, on the same day, the van was seen at Slag Lane, Lowton when it is believed the same woman was being kept in the van by the same man.

The woman is described as 5ft 7in tall with blonde hair, worn in a ponytail. She is believed to be 19 with an Irish accent. The man is 5ft 9in tall, stocky and with cropped hair. He is 20 with an Irish accent.

The police can be contacted on 0161 856 7253 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.