TWO boys have spoken of their terror after a stranger tried to drag them into the back of a van.

Joshua Sparrow, 13, and his nineyear- old cousin, Luke Fletcher, were rescued by a member of the public when the man attempted to bundle them into the vehicle in Fossway, York, on Saturday.

Luke suffered a broken arm after being dragged across the ground and Joshua was left with bruises.

It is understood the man's daughter had been bitten by a dog, which he mistakenly believed belonged to the two boys.

Joshua said: "We were walking to my auntie's house when this green van pulled up.

"A man shot out and grabbed Luke's arm and started pulling him towards the van by his arm. He was on the floor, screaming get off me, get off me'.

"I tried to run, but he came after me and punched me in the back of the head and pushed me into a hedge."

His father, Anthony, 38 said: "We would like to thank the family who got them out. If it hadn't been for them I dread to think what would have happened."

A spokesman for York police said: "What appears to have happened is that the suspect's daughter was bitten by a dog.

"He has gone round to try and find the dog and has found these two boys, who he believed were in charge of the dog that had bitten his daughter.

"He detained them both and tried to put them in the back of his van, which is when the members of the public intervened."

A man has been arrested and released on police bail pending further inquiries.