DETECTIVES hunting a serial sex fiend thought to have attacked two teenage girls within yards of each other today revealed the second "victim" had made up her story.

Police were called in and launched a manhunt after the two incidents in Briercliffe Road and Hebrew Road, Burnley, on Wednesday.

They linked the crimes, involving a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old girl, after they were reported to have happened within hours of each other and included similar descriptions for the offender.

But police today said the second attack on the 16-year-old girl did not occur -- though they are still investigating the first case.

A spokesman said: "During the course of the police investigation into these offences it has been ascertained that the attempted assault that allegedy occured outside the Duke of York public house, in Briercliffe Road, Burnley, at 8.15pm on Wednesday did not actually occur.

"The 16-year-old complainant has admitted that she made up the allegation in its entirety due to certain family difficulties that she was experiencing.

"However the investigation concerning the earlier attempted assault on a 13-year-old girl in Hebrew Road between 6.30pm and 6.45pm is still being investigated and police continue to appeal for people to contact them if they have any knowledge of either the offence or the offender.

"All information will be treated in the strictest confidence."

The offender was Asian, aged 18 to 20 and around 5ft 9ins, wearing a three-quarter length jacket, beige shoes and dark jeans.

The victim said she was dragged from Hebrew Road, near the junction of Old Hall Street, into an alleyway after the man made indecent suggestions to her.

She managed to fight off her attacker and escape. Police said she had been lucky to escape a more serious assault.

It is the second time police in Burnley have called off an investigation into a bogus assault in the town in the last five months. In October last year an 11-year-old girl made up a story about an attack in Towneley Park, when she claimed a man leapt on her from a tree as she walked home.

Anyone with information about the attack in Hebrew Road should contact Burnley police on 01282 425001.