DETECTIVES in Burnley have charged a 37-year-old man in connection with two serious sexual assaults that took place in the town.

Nizam Ahmed, who is from Burnley but currently of no fixed address, has been charged with one offence of rape and a further offence of attempted rape.

He has been remanded in custody to appear before Burnley Magistrates Court.

Police launched an investigation after a 23-year-old woman reported being attacked and raped as she walked home along the canal bank off Colne Road between 10.30pm and 11.30pm on Tuesday, September 28.

The investigation revealed an earlier similar offence, the attempted rape of an eighteen-year-old girl in the same location at around 10pm on Friday 27 August.

Police believe the two offences are linked and are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward.

Detective Superintendent Neil Esseen said, “Although we have charged a man, this is not the end of the investigation.

We continue to make enquiries into these and any other similar crimes, and I would urge anyone with any information about any offences in the area to come forward and contact us.

”Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 125 3545 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.