A RED Astra van found abandoned by police could be connected to a car-jacking incident in Rawtenstall earlier this week.

The terrifying ordeal took place in the car park of Asda, Rawtenstall, on Monday, July 28, at about 7pm.

The van, registration H195 BNA, was found with a knife on the passenger seat, at the entrance to the store's car park.

Police said the vehicle was abandoned near to where Louise Millward's Audi A3 Quattro sport car, was stolen.

Louise, 23, of Rawtenstall, who had been shopping in Asda, was about to drive away when a man approached and opened the driver's door, holding a black case containing what appeared to be gun.

Police said the van had been stolen from Heywood, in Manchester, earlier the same day of the car-jacking . They believe it had been involved in a collision, with its rear nearside tyre deflated and a damaged back bumper.

Detective Sergeant Andy Gilbert said: "We are hoping to link this to the robbery. We think the offender has committed a crime elsewhere in this van before abandoning it and stealing the Audi.

"We are appealing to anybody who may have information about this vehicle to contact us. We know it could have been left any time between 11am and noon on the same day and we know it was there at the time of the incident.

"The vehicle has now been recovered by police while we make investigations and carry out examinations on it to see if we can link the vehicle to this incident."

"Louise's car is still missing which we believe could have been abandoned.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Rawtenstall CID on 01706 237442 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.