POLICE have arrested a man in connection with suspected sex assaults on two schoolgirls.

The 38-year-old man was arrested by detectives on Sunday, interviewed, and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

He is expected to return to the police station in December to answer his bail.

Police said the man was not from the area and that detectives had travelled to make the arrest following information from a witness in the case.

Police would not say where the man was from.

Det Sgt Russ Proctor, of Burnley CID, said: "We have arrested and interviewed a man after receiving information from a witness.

"He has been interviewed and released while we carry out some further inquiries."

Parents were warned not to let their children walk to school alone after two schoolgirls were attacked by a "grinning man" last month.

The 13-year-olds were allegedly indecently assaulted by a man in Padiham Road, Burnley, near Lockyer Avenue, on their way to Ivy Bank Business College.

The offender followed them and grinned as he reached out to grab them.

They were left upset, though not injured, and rushed to school, where police were alerted.