TWO terrified children spent half an hour hiding in a back garden after they were chased by a man who tried to entice them into his car.

And today police issued a warning for youngsters never to go with strangers after the same man was thought to have approached another group of children in the Fishmoor area of Blackburn.

The man is white, in his late 40s or early 50s, about 5ft 8in tall, with a chubby face. He is clean-shaven and bald on top with short dark hair - rather like a monk, police said.

He has a local accent and was wearing a black waist-length leather jacket and blue jeans.

A nine-year-old boy and his seven-year-old sister were approached by the man at 12.20pm yesterday when they were playing on a swing at the bottom of Maryport Close, Blackburn.

Police said he was driving a silver or grey Sierra or Volvo and opened the window to speak to the children.

PC Darren Cookson said: "The man said: 'There you are you two, I've been looking for you all morning. I have to show you my puppies'."

"The two children then ran off and hid in a back garden for several minutes before coming out again to find him still waiting for them.

"He spoke again, they ran away and he started to chase them.

"They hid in somebody's back yard for half an hour before the boy plucked up the courage to tell the neighbours.

"The young girl was absolutely scared out of her mind."

Police say the same man was involved in a similar incident which happened outside the Centurion pub, Higher Croft Road, on Monday April 8 at about 4.30pm.

Three young girls, aged eight, nine and ten were playing in the car park when the man came out of the pub and they asked him for the time.

PC Cookson said: "Another girl then walked up to him and asked him the time and he replied: 'I've got plenty of time for you darling.'

"When the girl tried to leave the car park he drove his car, possibly a turquoise Fiesta or Peugeot 106, and blocked her off.

"All the girls then tried to leave but he pulled up alongside them and waved a £5 note as if to entice them into the car. They ran away and reported it to the police.

"We want to warn everybody, especially children, to be on the lookout and to contact police immediately if they see anything suspicious."

Anyone who can help should call the police on 01254 51212.

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