A FLASHER is being hunted after schoolgirls were targeted in the street in Accrington and Clayton-le-Moors.

Parents have been warned to make sure children are using well-populated routes to school after two incidents happened off Whalley Road within the space of a week.

One involved a 12-year-old girl on her way to school early in the morning and two 13-year-olds who ran home after a man standing in an alleyway shouted at them before exposing himself.

The first happened at 7.20am near Jubillee Street, Clayton-le-Moors last Monday.

The 12-year-old girl described him as white, slim, clean shaven with short grey hair wearing jeans and a blue jumper.

On Saturday at 3.30pm, two girls said a man in an alley shouted as they passed in Ellerbeck Road, Accrington, exposing himself to them.

The girls’ parents later searched the area but could not find him.

They described him as aged between 30 to 45, between 5ft10in and 6ft tall and of medium build with ‘scruffy’ short dark hair and heavy stubble, possibly a beard.

They added he wore paint-splashed trousers and possibly drove a white van which was parked nearby.

Sgt Simon Holderness at Accrington Police said: “These incidents can be distressing for victims of any age and so it is very concerning that girls of this age are being targeted.

“The areas are not too far from each other and some sections can be deserted early on.

“Parents whose children walk to school very early may need to make other arrangements. I would urge anyone with information to get in touch to prevent this happening again.”

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or Accrington Police on 0845 125 35 45.