Man tries to kidnap girl, 10

File photo / Martin Sykes

Christchurch police are investigating the attempted abduction of a 10-year-old girl in the suburb of St Martins on Saturday.

A man parked his car on Centaurus Road and approached the girl as she walked along the footpath, say police.

He opened the front passenger's door and invited the girl to get into the car, holding her by the shoulder and attempting to pull her towards him.

The girl managed to get away and ran to her nearby home.

The offender, who was not known to the girl, is described as 20 to 30 years old, of slim build and about 1.74m (5'7").

He had short, dark hair and was wearing dark-coloured clothing, sneakers and grey and black speckled gloves.

The girl told police that she had first noticed the offender's shiny red car as it drove past heading towards Lyttelton. She says it did a u-turn and parked on the side of the road near her. She believes the car had black tinted windows.

Detective Sergeant Earle Borrell of South Christchurch police is appealing for the public to come forward and help identify the man. He says "this is a blatant attempt to lure a young child into a car on a busy road at a time of the day when there were a lot of people about."

Anyone who thinks they may be able to assist is asked to phone Mr Borrell at Christchurch South police on 03 363 2584.

- NZ Herald staff