TWO 14-year-old girls, who were raped last Thursday are being comforted by their families following their ordeals.

Police are linking the rapes, which both occurred between 8pm and 9pm.

Although both girls know of each other, they were not close friends, and had been out with their own groups of friends on the night.

The first girl had left her group of friends when she was enticed into a white Ford Transit van by two men. The van then drove a short distance away before both men attacked the girl.

Following the attack the van returned to Berry's Lane where the girl was left.

The second attack took place within 20 minutes of the first. Again the two men chose a 14-year-old girl who was walking along Berry's Lane on her own after leaving a group of friends.

She was enticed into the back of the van by one male, while the other drove a short distance. Both men then raped the girl and afterwards took her back to Berry's Lane.

Both men are described as white, between 17 and 20 years of age, medium build. One had very short fair hair and the other had brown or red hair in a "mushroom" style cut.

The van used by the attackers is a Diamond white Ford Transit, which has a sliding door and is fitted with a tow bar and it has an M, N, or P prefix on the registration plate.

DS Sue Ford, who is dealing with the attacks, said: "Both of these attacks have left the girls in a very distressed condition and they could be mentally scarred for life by their traumatic ordeals.

"We believe that the van had been in the area for some time before the rapes took place and it is possible that the victims may have been singled out after leaving their groups of friends.

"We are currently checking on all vehicles within the area that fit the description.

"It is also known that several white transit vans were in the Parr area at the time in question and we are asking the drivers to come forward so that they can be eliminated from the enquiry."

A special mobile incident unit will be set up near the shops on Berry's Lane tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow night between 6 and 10pm. Anyone with information should attend.

ANY calls to the police can be made in strict confidence to DS Sue Ford on 0151 777 6065. Police have also issued a hotline number for people to ring with any information. The hotline number is 0151 777 6063.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.