POLICE are appealing for information after a man tried to get a 14-year-old paper boy into a car in Nunthorpe.

The incident, which police are treating as suspicious, happened at about 3.45 last Friday afternoon when a man asked the boy, who was working in Guisborough road, if he wanted to go for a ride in his car.

The boy ignored him and started moving off on his bike, but the man became verbally abusive and shouted to the youngster to get in.

The paper boy rode off down a nearby cut and the car drove away. A spokesman for Cleveland police said the boy was not harmed and had given an excellent description of both the man and the car.

The man is described as white, 50 to 60-years-old, and looks like Norris from Coronation Street. He is mostly bald with some short grey hair round the sides of his head and a grey moustache.

He has a darker European-type complexion and a round chubby face and was wearing glasses with thick clear lenses.

He has a deep voice and speaks with a local accent.

His car is a light blue metallic Vauxhall Astra, possibly R registration, with a rear spoiler and colour-coded door handles and wing mirrors. The rear off-side wheel trim is missing.

The spokesman said: "The incident was on the last day of many school half terms and the area will have been busy. Anyone with information should call 01642 303 126.