A 16-YEAR-old boy is being questioned by detectives over the alleged rape of two young girls at a Blackburn retail park.

The local teenager was arrested on suspicion of rape yesterday.

Police said they had received reports that two girls, aged 13 and 14, were befriended by a male who had joined their group of friends at Grimshaw Retail Park.

The allegation is that the girls were then persuaded to perform sexual acts behind the Blackburn Ice Arena.

The offences are alleged to have occurred two weeks ago at around 5pm, but were only reported to police this week after their parents were informed.

Officers said that the girls were now being interviewed to discover the exact circumstances of the incident.

The two teenage girls are receiving help and counselling from specially trained police staff.

Yesterday officers met with the youngsters and their families as the investigation continued.

Bosses at the Blackburn Ice Arena said police had not informed them of the incident, and declined to comment further.