A MAN tried to drag a 14-year-old girl into a van near a busy motorway junction.

The victim was walking near Chain Bar at Cleckheaton, where the M62 meets the M606 to Bradford, 11.20am on Thursday, when the man struck.

She was walking along Mill Carr Hill Road in the Lower Woodlands area towards the M606 bridge when the man – in a shiny dark blue Mercedes van – stopped three times and asked for directions.

As she carried on walking under the bridge the van pulled up alongside. The driver got out and tried to drag the girl into the back of the van.

She managed to get away and raise the alarm.

The attacker is Asian, in his 20s and 5ft 10in tall. He has very dark brown hair in a curtain style on top and shaved round the sides and back.

He was unshaven and has big bushy eyebrows. His dark eyes have bags beneath them.

The man wore a dark blue T-shirt, baggy blue jeans and white trainers.

The van has black wing mirrors and no glass in the rear doors.

Det Insp Pat O'Neill, of Kirklees CID, said: "Although she was not physically injured she is obviously shaken up.

“We are treating this as an isolated incident, but it is vital that anyone with information speaks to the police.

"The area is busy and someone must have seen what happened. Do you recognise the description of the van or the man? We need to trace him so we can establish what has happened."

Anyone with information should phone Kirklees CID in Huddersfield on 0845 6060606 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.