WITNESS APPEAL - ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION, WAVERTREE, LIVERPOOL

MERSEYSIDE Police in south Liverpool are appealing for information after a man tried to abduct a young girl as she walked along a street in Wavertree with her mum.

The incident happened at around midday on Friday as the 3 year old girl was crossing Picton Road, opposite Southdale Road, with her mum, towards the Wellington pub.

As the mum let go of her daughter's hand to get a pushchair containing her baby onto the pavement, a man walked passed them both and took the child's hand before continuing along Picton Road.

Within seconds, the girl's mum realised what had happened and shouted at the man before grabbing her daughter and going to a nearby nursery school to raise the alarm.

The man is believed to have continued along Picton Road towards Picton Clock. The victim was not injured in any way but her mother, who is 23, was left extremely shaken.

The offender is described as white, aged in his late 50s or early 60s, around 5ft 5ins - 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build, with distinctive snow white hair which partially covered his ears. He was clean shaven and was wearing a short-sleeved dark checked polo shirt with a white collar and beige-coloured tracksuits bottoms.

He swayed as he walked and may have been drunk.

Police officers carried out a full search of the area, including all the local pubs, but the offender could not be found.

Detective Inspector Paul Roche from Admiral Street CID, said:- "This is a very disturbing incident that has caused a great of distressed to the mother of this little girl. Thankfully, incidents like this are very rare however we are concerned about this man's behaviour and we need to trace him as soon as possible. Picton Road would have been very busy at that time of day with a lot of potential witnesses. Also, the description given to use is very detailed so I am confident someone out there has seen him or knows who he is. I would appeal to anyone who lives in the area and thinks they know who this man is, or was in Picton Road at around midday last Friday and saw something, to get in touch."   Call Liverpool South CID on:- 0151 777 5394 or Crimestoppers on:- 0800 555 111.

Outstanding volunteer groups in the North West clinch prestigious Award from The Queen

12 voluntary organisations from across the North West have been announced as winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for volunteer groups.

Those from the North West region receiving the Award for 2010 are from a diverse set of groups. They range from a breast cancer support group on Merseyside, to a lads & girls club mentoring project in Bolton, and a trust providing young homeless people in Blackpool with counselling and support.

The prestigious National Honour recognises outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others. It sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged of the highest standard.

The North West winners were selected from 341 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.

They will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenants in the counties at special ceremonies arranged by the Lieutenancy offices. Groups have also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Main Award Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said:- “Outstanding volunteer groups across the UK all too often go without recognition for the truly amazing work they do, despite the vital part they play in helping bind our communities together. It’s a great pleasure to celebrate the efforts of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service winners in the North West and help raise awareness of all they do for the benefit of others.”

More than 850 groups have now won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, including 87 in the North West over the eight years since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

For details of all this year’s Award winners and information on how to nominate a group, click here, where a nomination form can be downloaded.