POLICE in Burnley and Pendle are stepping up the hunt for two sex pests who have targeted schoolgirls.

Officers are searching for a man who attacked an 11-year-old girl in Burnley's Towneley Park and a second offender who assaulted a 15-year-old in Barkerhouse Road, Nelson.

Detectives in Burnley are screening names on the National Sex Offenders' Register and working with police across the country while police in Pendle have released a new description of a man.

Detective Sergeant Dave Groombridge, of Burnley CID, said the team were thinking about releasing a photofit of the attacker after councillors and residents called for security to be stepped up in the park. The girl was on lunchbreak from school when she was sexually assaulted by a man, who then tried to drag her away. She was walking along Lyndhurst Road, Burnley, at around 12.35pm two weeks ago when she was approached.

The incident follows 13 others in the area and Towneley High School deputy head David Franklin has urged pupils to be vigilant.

The offender is described as aged 60 to 70, 5ft 10ins tall, of chunky build with grey hair, clean shaven and wearing cream trousers.

DS Dave Groombridge, said: "We are continuing with our investigations and inquiries. We are looking at a number of known sex offenders to try and establish any links so we can catch this man."

Officers in Pendle said their attacker has a distinctive tattoo on his arm.

The victim, who lives in Nelson, had been out with friends and was walking in Barkerhouse Road when she was dragged into a back alley behind the Save Service Station in Leeds Road at 11.10pm on Friday, August 16. She was pushed against a wall and subjected to an indecent assault. She managed to break free after she struggled and hit out.

DC Ray Entwistle, of Nelson CID, said they were looking for an Asian male, in his early 20s, 5ft 6ins, stocky, with short, cropped dark hair which was gelled, a big nose and stubble on his chin. He was wearing a thick, gold neck chain, a white vest, dark jeans and white trainers. The man also had a distinctive Chinese-style tattoo on his upper left arm.

He said police are appealing in particular to the occupants of a white car, possibly a Vauxhall Cavalier or Ford Sierra with a C or G registration number, to contact them. It was seen driving slowly along Barkerhouse Road at the time of the assault.

DC Ray Entwistle said: "This was a very serious indecent assault which could have gone further had the girl not struggled and hit out."

Anyone with information can contact Burnley CID on 01282 472144 or Nelson CID on 01282 472643.