POLICE are hunting men who raped two teenage girls. They were attacked after two men pulled up next to them in a black BMW coupe in Horwich, on Thursday evening.

The girls began chatting with the men and asked them for a lift into Westhoughton.

When the driver failed to stop at an agreed drop-off point, they began screaming and the passenger punched one of them in the face.

They drove on to George's Lane, off the A6, where the passenger climbed into the back seat and raped one of the girls.

Both girls were then raped outside the car in nearby woods.

The men then drove off shortly after 9pm leaving the girls there.

Det Insp Andy Meeks said: "This was a brutal and sustained sexual attack on two young women.

"The girls had been out enjoying an evening stroll when they had the misfortune to cross paths with these terrible men.

"It all seemed to begin innocently enough but quickly descended into shocking violence.

"These girls are understandably traumatised by this, but they have managed to give us a detailed account of what happened. We now need the public's help."

The rapists were white with short, dark hair and very tanned.

Det Insp Meeks said: "Both where the girls were picked up and George's Lane, where they were raped, are quiet spots where any suspicious activity would stand out.

"It hadn't been dark long when the attack happened.

"Maybe someone was out walking their dog or going for a jog when they saw this black BMW.

"They might not have thought much of it at the time, but the information could help get these violent rapists off the streets.

"We don't want to cause any unnecessary alarm but I would remind people, particularly women, not to get into vehicles with people they don't know."

Call Bolton CID on 0161 856 5740 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.