A school caretaker has appeared in court charged with the attempted kidnap of a teenage girl.

Andrew White (53), who works at Prestwich Arts College, was alleged to have grabbed a 15-year-old girl on Chatsworth Avenue, Prestwich, and tried to force her into his car around 5pm on Friday. The girl struggled free and the police were alerted.

White was arrested a short time later at his home in Ludlow Avenue, Whitefield.

He appeared before Bury Magistrates' Court on Monday. No plea was entered and White was remanded in custody by Bury magistrates and is to appear before Bolton Crown Court on May 27.

Bury education chiefs have confirmed White has now been suspended from his job at Prestwich Arts College.

A spokesman for Bury Council said: "We understand that a caretaker, sub-contracted to the school, has been arrested and charged regarding an incident which took place last Friday evening. The incident was not related to any pupil attending the school.

"Our main priority remains as always, to safeguard the welfare of our students. The caretaker has been suspended from duty, pending the outcome of the current police investigations."