POLICE have appealed for witnesses to contact them after a man indecently exposed himself to a nine-year-old boy.

The child was playing with a group of friends in the cemetery area near Blackburn Road and White Path in Great Harwood on Saturday between 4pm and 4.30pm.

He told police that after play fighting with his friends he went to sit down and saw a man sitting next to a tree with his back to the cemetery wall along the old railway line known as White Path.

The man had his trousers around his ankles and was committing a sexual act.

He spoke to the boy about the play fighting and told him to tell him if he saw anyone. He then continued with the sexual act.

The young boy went back to his friends and ran home.

The man is described as white, between 28 and 32, with a thin face.

He had stubble and short shaved hair and was wearing black boots, black track-suit bottoms with poppers up both sides, black boxer shorts and a dirty fluorescent jacket similar to those worn by workmen.

Sergeant Neil Howarth, of Great Harwood police, said: "If anyone was in the cemetery area around 4pm on Saturday and saw either the incident or the man described they should contact police."

The incident is being dealt with by PC Miller 3023 on 01254 884800 or witnesses can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.