KNOWN paedophile James Warke is with missing East Lancashire schoolboy Martin Duguid, police believe.

Detectives were today sifting through information which includes various sightings of registered sex offender Warke.

Police said there had been possible sightings of Warke as far afield as Wales and Cumbria.

Martin, 12, vanished on Tuesday night following a row with his parents at his home in Dalton Close, Audley, Blackburn.

Margaret and David Duguid have since been told that Martin had been seen visiting Warke, 36, at his flat in nearby Lincoln Close.

When the couple went to investigate themselves, they saw Warke leaving the building, but there was no sign of their son.

Martin, a pupil at Queen's Park High School, Blackburn, was seen in Ainsworth Street in the town centre at around 1pm on Wednesday with Warke.

The two were then spotted on Thursday morning on the car park at Tesco in Hill Street.

Warke is originally from Northern Ireland, but was living in Blackpool until four months ago when he moved to Blackburn. In December he told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph he had been the victim of a knifepoint attack in the Cathedral grounds.

Warke is known as "Jimbo" and there have been reports of regular visits from children to his flat.

He is 5ft 9in, heavily built, with dark brown hair and speaks with a pronounced Irish accent.

Martin is slim, has blond hair, blue-green eyes and a pale complexion. He was wearing his school uniform when he left home, a burgundy jumper, black trousers, white shirt and white trousers.

The manhunt, involving 30 detectives, is being led by Det Chief Inspector Mick Turner.

He said: "Obviously we are extremely concerned for the safety of Martin. We are hoping to find him safe and sound as soon as possible, but we are treating this extremely seriously.

"We would appeal for anyone with information to contact us soon as possible."

Martin's distraught mother, Margaret, said: "We were told by the police that Martin was with a man who messes with children.

"We did not even know that Martin knew this person or that he went round to his house. All we want is for him to come home safe and sound.

"We went round to this man's house on Tuesday and were banging on the front door.

"We saw him coming down the stairs but he went out of the back door and he has not been seen since.

"The whole thing is a nightmare and we are worried sick. Martin has never been away from home before and he is still scared of the dark."

Anyone with information should contact Blackburn police on 01254 51212.

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