A MAN arrested in connection with an incident where two vulnerable women were allegedly conned out of thousands of pounds in a so-called immigration scam has been released on bail.

Police said the women -one in her 30s and the other in her 80s - were taken from Blackburn to Manchester during the incidents on Friday and Monday. But they denied social media rumours the women, who are both from the Whalley Range area of Blackburn - were kidnapped.

But they have warned people to be vigilant after receiving reports of callers, claiming to be immigration officers, contacting people threatening deportation.

Police said the callers have claimed the women, who are both from the Whalley Range area of Blackburn, could be deported unless they pay a fine. The women have been taken by car to Manchester , made to hand over money - which the Lancashire Telegraph understands to have been thousands of pounds - before being returned to Blackburn unharmed.

A 50-year-old man, from Blackburn, arrested on suspicion of committing fraud by false representation has been bailed until May 21.