A TEENAGE bride from Bolton was abducted by three men as she walked through Carlisle town centre.

Shoppers watched in horror as the 18-year-old Asian girl was dragged into a car.

The kidnapping sparked a huge rescue operation, involving Cumbria police and neighbouring forces.

The young woman's ordeal ended when the Vauxhall Cavalier was stopped at Killington Lake services on the M6 three hours later.

The girl's husband and two other men were arrested on suspicion of kidnap and causing actual bodily harm.

The girl, who has not been named, is believed to have been staying in Carlisle for a few days after leaving her husband who she married last year. She was abducted at 4.30pm on Saturday.

Police today said she is now "safe and well" at a secret location .

Det Sgt Peter Proud, of Cumbria Police, said: "Several members of the public who witnessed the abduction described it as a 'traumatic incident'.

"The girl was screaming as she was dragged into the car which then sped off the wrong way down a bus lane and nearly collided with another vehicle.

"We had no idea who she was or who the offenders were at the time and details of the car were circulated throughout the force, to neighbouring forces and then nationally. Two hours later, a traffic patrol spotted the vehicle on the M6 and it turned into Killington Lane services.

"We arrested the three men and the girl was found safe and well. She was extremely traumatised at first, but when we found her she had calmed down a lot.

"It was treated as a very serious incident because we didn't know what was going on. If it was not for the prompt action of members of the public, it would not have been dealt with so speedily and successfully."

Three Asian men are due to return to Carlisle police station next Monday for further questioning.