A man has been charged as police investigate reports of a rape in Lostock Hall.

South Ribble Police were called just after midnight on Thursday 17 April to the Sephton Street area.

They received reports a woman had been taken in a car to the road off Watkin Lane and raped after being threatened with a knife while in the Leyland area.

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Police say they later received a report of a man breaking into a property in Preston.

Neil Reid, 43, of Towngate, Leyland is to appear before Preston Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (19 April) morning charged with rape, kidnap, threatening a person with a bladed article and attempted robbery.

Police say the victim is being supported by specially trained officers.

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