PARENTS in Ramsbottom are being warned to be on their guard after the attempted abduction of an eight-year-old girl.

A man in his 40s is being hunted by police after he chased the terrified girl through woodland close to her home in Whittingham Drive on Monday night (June 18).

At one point the man managed to grab hold of the girl's t-shirt but she slapped his hand and continued to flee to a nearby house to raise the alarm.

Police have now issued a warning to people in the area to be extra vigilant and report any strangers to officers straight away.

A spokeswoman for Bury police said: "The incident in Ramsbottom is very similar to

another attempted abduction, again involving an eight-year-old girl, in the Darwen area just a few days earlier.

"Parents should now be extra vigilant and make sure that their children do not go out on their own in the evenings."

Monday's incident happened at 8.30pm in Knowles Wood in the Broadhey area of Ramsbottom.

The girl was walking her dog and saw a man standing in trees. She began to walk back but the man followed her. As she started to run the stranger began to chase after her.

It was only when she reach a nearby house that the man stopped and disappeared into the trees.

He was white with short dark hair and was wearing scruffy denim jeans, brown shoes, a black waist-length coat and a black and white striped hat.

Any witnesses should contact Bury CID on 856 8150 quoting crime reference number:189916J