DETECTIVES today said they were keen to speak to a man seen following a teenage rape victim just minutes before she was attacked.

Police said a couple walking home had seen a man walking just behind the victim. They said they now wanted to speak to him to eliminate him from their inquiries or see if he could help with any further information on the attack.

The woman, 18, was attacked by a man who knocked on the front door and forced his way into her home in Blackburn Road, Great Harwood, at about 9pm on Saturday.

Police warn women to be on their guard following the incident in Great Harwood and a second, unrelated, sex attack in Sandringham Road, Darwen, 24 hours earlier, when a woman aged, 32, was enticed on to waste ground and attacked.

Police investigating that case said today they were keen to talk to people they believe could hold vital evidence.

Det Insp Neil Hunter said the man they wished to trace in Great Harwood had been wearing a jacket similar to that described by the victim as worn by her attacker.

He added: "A couple who know the victim were walking some way behind her along the Blackburn Road when they noticed a man appear from Lord Street and walk between them.

"When the victim went into her house the man slowed down and stood outside the Lidgett Pub, where they saw him use a mobile phone.

"The couple went into the pub and expected the man to appear as there were no other buildings along that road, but they did not see him again.

"We are keen to speak to him to see if he can offer us any information."

The man is described as white, in his 20s or early 30s, with several days' beard growth.

He was wearing a white baseball cap and a dark jacket with the word Umbro on the back.

Police in Darwen are continuing house-to-house inquiries after a woman was attacked as she returned home after a trip to Linwood Wines in Blackburn Road, Darwen, at about 9pm on Friday to buy some washing powder.

After hearing someone in distress on nearby waste ground she was pounced on by a man who pushed her against a car and assaulted her before running off.

Detective Inspector Jim Elston said police were keen to speak to a couple seen in vicinity during the time of the incident and the driver of a dark blue hatchback.

He also wanted to speak to children.

He said: "The children were on bikes on Sandringham Road between the hours of 8.45pm and 9.45pm on Friday, which was the period when the attack took place.

A couple was also seen to walk from Blackburn Road, left into Hollins Road and right on to Sandringham Road, at that time and a motorist drove down Sandringham Road, left into Hollins Lane and right into Blackburn Road.

"We are trying to trace these individuals who may be key witnesses to the incident and may have seen something before, at the time, or indeed, after.

We urge these people to come forward and speak to us."

He is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall, with dark, neat, short hair and wearing a pale blue shirt. He had rough hands, long finger nails and full, thick lips.

People are asked to ring Great Harwood CID on 01254 353341, Darwen CID on 01254 353830 or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111 with any information.