Two 14-year-old boys have been charged with the kidnap and rape of a girl of the same age in a public park in the New Forest in Hampshire.

The incident is alleged to have taken place at a recreation ground in the town of Fordingbridge on the evening of 17 January.

A Hampshire constabulary spokesperson said that one of the two boys, who are both from Fordingbridge, had been charged with rape, threats to kill, possession of a knife in a public place and kidnap/falsely imprisonment of a person with intent to commit a relevant sexual offence. The second boy had been charged with rape, threats to kill and kidnap.

Both the 14-year-olds appeared at Southampton youth court on Tuesday.

A third boy, aged 13 from the Hampshire town of Romsey, 17 miles from Fordingbridge, has been released on conditional bail pending further police inquiries.

The force spokesperson said: “Police were called at 10.41pm on Friday 17 January, however the incident is suspected to have occurred earlier in the evening. The girl continues to be supported by specialist officers.”

Fordingbridge, known as the northern gateway to the New Forest, is a small riverside town. It is 21 miles west of Southampton.