TWO men have been arrested after a blackmail gang attacked a man who thought he was meeting an underage girl in a church car park.

Police said two men aged 25 and 53 were arrested on suspicion of assault and blackmail and have been bailed while police investigate.

It is alleged that on Friday at 9pm, a 31-year-old man – not a 19-year-old as previously stated by police – went to a church car park in Atherton thinking he was meeting a 14-year-old girl.

When he arrived he was attacked by a group of men who accused him of being a paedophile, police said.

The group filmed the attack, and when he managed to escape sent him online messages threatening to post the video on Facebook if he did not pay them.

The following day the 31-year-old reported the matter to police and was promptly arrested on suspicion of grooming.

He has been bailed while police investigate.

On Saturday, shoppers at the Market Place in Wigan witnessed a 25-year-old man being attacked by a group of people – with one man headbutting him and knocking out two of his teeth.

The rest of the group filmed the incident, which has since been posted online.

The man got away from the group and went to the police station to report the incident.

A 25-year-old man was later charged with grooming and has been remanded in custody to appear before Liverpool Crown Court on May 11.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 8567124 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.