POLICE today appealed for parents to help them to catch a man who has been making obscene phone calls to children in the Blackburn area.

The calls have been from a man claiming to be calling from Tesco, Blackburn, and at other times claiming the child has won a competition.

In some calls, he claims to be ringing regarding Tesco's Computers for Schools promotion. After speaking to the parents, he then asks to speak to the child and once passed to them, makes the obscene comments.

Management at Tesco, Hill Street, Blackburn, have "categorically denied" the calls are in any way related to the store.

Police first launched an investigation after receiving reports about similar calls last year but were abandoned inquiries because of to lack of evidence.

They are still trying to discover how the man identifies potential victims.

PC Martin Hulme said: "We would be very interested to hear from any people who have been subjected to that sort of telephone call, and who have dialled 1471 and obtained the number.

"We desperately want to know the number this person is calling from and if anyone is able to help us, they should contact Blackburn police on 01254 51212."

Manager of the Hill Street Tesco store, Peter Hampton, said: "I can categorically state that this has absolutely nothing to do with Tesco, but I am unable to comment any further."

Father of two young sons, Howard Loram, of Moss Street, Blackburn, received a letter from St Stephen's Infant and Junior schools in Little Harwood warning parents to be on their guard against the calls this week.

Mr Loram, who has a five-year-old son at the infant school and a 10-year-old son at the junior, said: "It was certainly a terrible shock to receive a letter like this.

"I have spoken to quite a few parents and they are quite concerned as well. The thing that is worrying me is, is it just those schools which are being targeted? This man is obviously some kind of paedophile, because of the perverted comments he makes to children.

"I send my children to school every day and now I am worried that this man could be waiting outside the school gates at lunchtime. It is very worrying."

A spokesman for the junior school said: "We sent out the letters in response to a call from one of our parents. We informed the police immediately, and it would be routine to send out such a letter."

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