DETECTIVES in Burnley are hunting a serial sex fiend thought to have struck twice on the same night in the town centre.

Police have launched a manhunt and believe the crimes may be linked, after witnesses gave similar descriptions for the offender.

In the first incident a 34-year-old woman was indecently assaulted and in a separate attack a flasher exposed himself to workers in a local tanning studio, both on Monday night.

And police revealed they believe the same man could have been involved in indecent assaults that took place in the area last year.

Officers are now trawling through hours of CCTV footage in a bid to find vital clues.

The first incident happened at 8.15pm in The Mall, Burnley, as a 34-year-old local woman made her way through the town centre.

Detective Sergeant Steve Mounsey said: "She walked towards the bus station and believed she was being followed from Curzon Street by a male.

"She walked past the Pound Shop towards Woolworths. The male followed her and when she reached the telephone kiosk outside Woolworths, the male speeded up, grabbed her from behind and indecently assaulted her. She screamed and struck out at the male, when he let her go she turned round and saw the man.

"She's obviously very frightened and shaken by the incident. It's a nasty incident and is extremely serious."

He is described as an Asian male, aged between 25-30 years, with dark hair, 5ft 5ins tall, medium build, wearing black pants and a beige coloured jacket. The victim said the offender ran off towards The Mall.

The second incident happened just 35 minutes later when a man of a similar description exposed himself to women in a tanning studio in Curzon Street.

In previous incidents, a 13-year-old girl was dragged into an alleyway off Hebrew Road before she was indecently assaulted. She managed to fight off the attacker during the assault in February last year.

In another incident a 20-year-old woman was indecently assaulted on her way to work as she walked through a grassy area behind Sainsbury's on October 31 last year.

A man grabbed her from behind and indecently assaulted her. Police say both descriptions resemble details given about the latest offender.

DS Mounsey added: "We don't know for sure if they are connected, but we are keeping an open mind."

People with information should contact DC Paul Hanson on 01282 472240 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.