YOUNG people are being urged to be on their guard after a teenager was coaxed into a car by a man purporting to be a policeman and forced into performing an indecent act.

Police have issued a warning about the dangers of getting into cars with strangers following last Thursday night's incident, which has left the 16-year-old traumatised.

"People are still getting into cars with strangers even though they are taught at a very early stage not to," said Inspector Tudor Griffiths, of Kendal police.

"I think people sometimes see Cumbria as a quiet backwater but it is far from that."

Police are hunting the man who persuaded the young girl to get in the car with him after engaging her in conversation on Appleby Road, near to the junction with Sandylands Road.

Detective Sergeant Ray Begley, of Kendal police, said the man had approached the girl outside the vehicle and had then got back inside the car from where he conducted a conversation with the teenager.

As they were talking a couple had approached from Sandylands estate and as there was insufficient room on the pavement to allow them to pass, the man had persuaded the girl to get in the car.

"He has tried to convince her that he is a policeman and has told her to get in the car," said Sgt Begley.

"He has told her that he will drive her round to Kendal police station where somebody from the front desk will verify who he says he is."

"Once the girl got into the car, he has driven off round Kendal's one-way system and then on towards the B5284 Crook road where he stopped the car and co-erced the girl into becoming involved in an indecent act.

He then dropped the girl off in Bowness."

Police would like to speak to the couple who were walking along Sandylands Road, near to the Nat West Bank, at around 10pm.

The woman was middle-aged with mousey-coloured hair and was wearing a pink jacket.

The man police are trying to trace is medium-built, in his 30s with short brown/black hair.

He was wearing jogging trousers.

The girl was wearing a black puffer jacket and blue jeans.

Police would like to hear from anyone who saw the man and girl talking on Appleby Road last Thursday night.

Anyone with information should contact Kendal police on 01539-722611.