A YOUNG male cashier was abducted from a service station in the New Forest by three men who later abandoned him in the forest.

Detectives are investigating the incident which happened late on Sunday evening and involved the member of staff at Watsons Service Station, also known as Windmill Garage - a 24-hour petrol station at Blashford, half a mile from Ringwood on the road to Salisbury.

The man told police that three men forced him into a dark coloured car at the garage before driving him to a remote part of the New Forest and leaving him there.

He was spotted by passing motorists at around 2.30am on Monday morning, sitting in a lay-by on the A31 near to Rufus Stone where the police picked him up and took him to Lyndhurst police station.

The man, who is aged in his 20s, was uninjured.

Forensic specialists spent yesterday at the scene gathering evidence. Hampshire Police said nothing has been reported stolen from the garage.

Detectives are keen to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity or may have been passing the garage and saw a dark coloured car.

They would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen this vehicle being driven around the New Forest with three occupants between 11.30pm and the early hours of yesterday morning.

Anyone with any information should contact CID at Lyndhurst on 0845 0454545 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.