Northern Territory Police have charged a 33-year-old man with attempting to abuct a 10-year-old girl at Palmerston this week.

Police are calling for witnesses who may have seen a black or dark coloured small car near Woodroffe Avenue and Zenith Circuit in the hour after 2:30pm on Tuesday.

Police say the girl went to a friend’s house after she was approached and gave a detailed description to police.

The man was arrested that night and has been charged with attempted deprivation of liberty and possessing a controlled weapon.

He has been bailed to face Darwin Magistrates Court next month.