Abduction attempt leads

Central Otago police are following ''positive leads'' in their investigation into the alleged attempted abduction of a 12-year-old Cromwell girl on Friday.

Several members of the public contacted police over the weekend with information and that was being followed up, but any more details would be welcome, Sergeant Derek Ealson said.

The girl was cycling home along Blyth St, Cromwell, about 4pm on Friday, when she noticed a white van with ''blacked out windows'' was following her. One of the two men in the van allegedly grabbed her from behind and lifted her off the bicycle but she fought back and was able to break free, Sgt Ealson said on Friday. The men drove off.

The van occupants were described as dark-skinned, and had foreign accents. One had shoulder-length dreadlocks and a distinctive red mark under his left eye, and the other had a shaven head.

Police had ''grave concerns'' about that incident and a separate one later that afternoon in which a 7-year-old Alexandra boy near the Alexandra Primary School was offered a ride home by a stranger who was driving a four-door silver car, he said. The boy had declined the lift and the man drove off.