Police are appealing for fresh information after a site manager of a housing development was violently kidnapped from a street in Bacup, Lancashire.

Paul Brady, 44, of Rochdale was kidnapped from the Beaufort Road area of Weir, on Saturday 1 August, after police were alerted to the incident at 2.10pm following a call from a member of the public.

The whereabouts of Mr Brady are still unknown and a major police inquiry continues to secure his safe release.

At the time of the kidnap Mr Brady was working on a housing development at Lynns Court.

Mr Brady had travelled to the site to do some work on one of the houses with a friend, David Collier. As they left the development they were travelling along Beaufort Road in two separate vehicles, Mr Brady was driving a white Ford Connect van and Mr Collier was driving a silver Mercedes 190. Whilst on Beaufort Road their vehicles were boxed in by the kidnappers' vehicles.

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There were as many as 8-10 kidnappers who are believed to have arrived in a white Ford Galaxy and a silver Citroen Berlingo. They were all wearing balaclava masks and carrying weapons. They dragged Mr Brady from his vehicle and assaulted him before forcing him into one of their vehicles before making from the scene at high speed. They also tried to kidnap Mr Collier but fortunately he managed to get away.

The kidnappers made off from the scene in at least four vehicles which included stealing the two vehicles belonging to Mr Brady and Mr Collier together with the Ford Galaxy and the Citreon Berlingo.

At 2.40pm that afternoon the van belonging to Mr Brady and the Mercedes belonging to Mr Collier were found abandoned at a lay-by off the Burnley Road East at Crown Point near Burnley close to the eco-trail leading to Clough Bottom reservoir.

Detective Supt Neil Hunter said: "The fact that we are appealing for help from the public in offences of this nature is extremely unusual and is therefore an indication of the grave concerns I have for Mr Brady's safety and welfare. We are doing everything we can to secure his safe release but we need the communities help. We know that a violent attack has taken place at the time that Mr Brady was kidnapped and since that day he has not been in touch with his family and friends since that day which is extremely worrying."

(CD/GK)