A MAJOR police operation was launched after a young girl's "blood-stained" dress was found in an alley.

A member of the public alerted officers but the investigation was scaled down when it was later discovered that what looked like blood was more likely to be paint.

A walker contacted the police yesterday afternoon after finding the dress in an alley off Accrington Road, Blackburn, behind the Intack Inn.

Forensic officers were sent and the area was cordoned off for several hours. A brush was found at the scene with a similar substance, but when it was swabbed it did not appear to be blood.

The dress has been sent away to be assessed and the results were expected back today.

Det Insp Neil Hunter said: "It was suspected it may well be blood, but the crime scene investigators screened it and it didn't react as it would if it was blood."