Women are being urged to be vigilant in Blackpool after a spate of attacks on lone females in the resort last week.

Police have issued the warning after three separate incidents - involving two women in their early 20s and an 11-year-old schoolgirl - occurred at various locations around the town.

In the first incident, at around 9.45pm on Friday, February 17, a 22-year-old woman was dragged into a dark side road off Elizabeth Street, central Blackpool, and robbed by two men believed to have followed her from a nearby cash machine.

In the second incident, a 23-year-old woman was dragged into an alleyway by a man believed to be in his early 40s while walking along Regent Road at around 3.15pm on Sunday.

The attacker ran off after the victim began to fight back but detectives are concerned that the attack may have been sexually motivated.

Just two hours later an 11-year-old girl was left badly shaken and bruised after having her arm twisted up her back and a bag containing around £15 forced from her grasp as she left a shop on Station Road, South Shore.

A Blackpool police spokesman said: "The last thing we want is for women to feel uncomfortable walking around their own town, especially considering Blackpool's image as a family resort.

"Having said that, safety has to come first and we would urge all women, regardless of age, to be extremely careful when out walking alone at any time of day.

"We would also urge extreme caution when withdrawing cash from a cash machine or putting money away inside or outside shops."

Anyone with information about these attacks is asked to contact Blackpool police on 01253 293933 or, in confidence, Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

l Civil servant Soloman Parker, 31, of Falkland Avenue, Marton, has been remanded in custody after appearing before magistrates in the resort charged with robbing the 11-year-old. He will appear before Preston Crown Court on June 1.