POLICE investigating the abduction of a six-year-old girl yesterday arrested three people on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Detectives are still hunting a man who snatched the child from her bath in her Willington Quay home in North Tyneside.

She was sexually assaulted in the man's car, then dumped naked in the freezing back alley of a street near her home.

Detectives last month appealed for help in tracing a caller who rang the incident room and pubs in the North Tyneside area, and is believed to have named a suspect.

As a result, a man and woman from Lincolnshire and a Tyneside man were arrested yesterday.

The Tyneside man was cautioned for perverting the course of justice, while the Lincolnshire man was bailed pending inquiries.

The woman was still being held yesterday on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Napier, who is investigating the case, said: "The inquiry continues with the same vigour and enthusiasm as at the outset, and the team remains committed to catching the attacker.

"I am confident that the net is closing in on the attacker.

"A significant number of inquiries are still ongoing, which includes visiting known sex offenders and also people who members of the public have named as possible suspects.

"It is a matter of diligent detective work tracing these people, establishing their movements at the relevant time and either eliminating them from the investigation or pursuing further inquiries."

The attacker is thought to be white and was dressed almost entirely in black.

Police are still trying to trace a red or burgundy Volkswagen car, possibly a VW Golf with an M or N registration, and a black Ford Focus car, which were seen in the area at the time.

The abduction, on December 27, shocked the community and detectives appeared on BBC1's Crimewatch programme as part of the campaign to urge people to come forward. Anyone with information has been asked to call 0191-214 6555, ext 63806.