BIDDULPH parents are being warned to be on their guard for strangers approaching their children after several incidents.

Two young girls were playing on their bikes in the early evening when they were approached by a man who invited the friends to come with him, but the girls ran off back to one of their homes.

The incident happened at 6pm in Tunstall Road on April 30, and is one of a number of such incidents to have taken place in the Biddulph area in the last few weeks.

The eight-year-old girls were able to provide detectives with a description of the man who approached them.

He is white, aged about 30, of proportionate build, with short, dark hair, and was wearing a black fleece.

Detectives working on the case are appealing for help from the public in coming forward with any information about the Tunstall Road incident or similar events.

"The girls were playing on their microscooters near their homes when a man who was on foot invited them to come with him," said a police spokesman.

"He did nothing else, and we are alerting parents to this behaviour, which they should report to the police.

"Local schools are being made aware of the incident to advise them of the correct course of action should pupils be approached by strangers."

On April 24 a nine-year-old girl was walking to school when a man pulled up in an old style blue car.

He asked where her school was, and she pointed to an alleyway she was about to go down before running off.

The man ran after her, but the girl managed to get to school. The man was in his 20s, with short, spiky blond hair, and wore blue ripped jeans.

The next day a 17-year-old girl was walking along a street when an old red car pulled up.

The passenger told the teenager to get in, but she refused and the car drove off.

"We're asking people to contact us as soon as possible should their children be approached by strangers," said the police spokesman.

Anyone with information can ring Biddulph Police on 01782-522002.