Masked men try to abduct boy, 9

A nine-year-old boy managed to fight off two masked men who tried to force him into a car on Wearside.

Northumbria Police said the attempted abduction happened on Friday night in the Town End Farm area of Sunderland.

The two men, who had balaclavas over their faces, pulled up in a red car, believed to be a Ford Mondeo, and tried to pull the child into the vehicle.

He struggled free and ran off. The first attacker was about 5ft 7in and the other was taller and very skinny.

Northumbria Police believe a little girl was in the area at the time riding a scooter and may have witnessed the attack.