SCHOOLGIRLS have been warned not to walk alone after a sex attacker struck three times in two days.

Two victims were teenagers and one, aged 16, was attacked as she walked to school along a busy street. Police were today set to visit schools in the Whalley Range and Shear Brow areas of Blackburn to warn youngsters to be on their guard.

Detectives were also due to carry out door-to-door inquiries.

The first indecent assault took place on Thursday, March 6 at 9am, on a 29-year-old Asian woman who was walking along an alleyway off East Park Road. She was approached from behind by a man who grabbed her. The second happened at 7.25pm on Friday, March 7 on a 14-year-old Asian girl walking along Whitewell Place. Like the first attack, the teenager was approached from behind and grabbed before the indecent assault took place.

Police are also investigating an attempted indecent assault which took place in Bicknell Street at 7.50am on Friday when a 16-year-old, wearing a school uniform, was approached from behind. The man tried to pull her into an alleyway but she fought him off and escaped. All three attacks were carried out by an Asian man.

DS Ian Critchley, of Blackburn CID, said: "All three women are badly shaken but relatively uninjured. We are carrying out door-to-door inquiries. We believe they are linked because the descriptions we have are similar and they are occurred within a few hundred yards of each other.

"We will be maintaining a presence in the area but would urge women and youngsters to be careful, conscious of their surroundings and also aware of who is around them when they go out."

DS Critchley added: "Our ethnic minorities team will be liaising with the local community to try and get a name for the offender but we also be talking to local schools to make sure children know to vigilant when walking home.

"One of the attacks was on a busy street in broad daylight and we are hoping people who might have seen something will now come forward and give us information."

The attacker is described as in his mid 20s, about 5ft 7ins to 5ft 9ins tall. He is described as chubby, with a round face and wavy hair. On two occasions the man was wearing a green sweatshirt and on the third occasion he was wearing a cream sweatshirt.

Anyone with information should call Blackburn CID on 01254 353569.