A TEENAGE girl ran away in fear after being approached by a naked man on her way to school.

Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School sent out a letter to parents warning them to ensure their children avoid Harvey Street in Oswaldtwistle after the man was seen walking towards the 15-year-old girl at 8.20am yesterday.

Police said the man, described as of medium build with collar-length black hair and a stubbly beard, began walking towards the teenager before she ran away.

The latest incident comes after a 14-year-old girl from the same school was touched on the bottom by a man in Town Bent Lane, Oswaldtwistle, last Thursday morning.

The attacker in that incident is described as white, aged between 20 and 30, short and was wearing a black hat and black clothing.

Police are looking into the possibility the two incidents are linked.

Parents have spoken of their shock at the latest incident.

Dawn Stubbins, whose daughter, Ella Hart, is in Year 8 at the school in Haworth Street and walks along Harvey Street with friends on her way to school, said she was very concerned about what happened.

She said: “It’s very scary for parents whose children use that road. It’s one of the main roads children use to walk down to get to school. It must have been frightening for the poor girl to see that. I do hope she’s okay.

“I’m going to be walking my girl to school this morning so she doesn’t feel scared walking without an adult.”

In the letter sent to parents, headteacher Andrew Williams said: “There has been an incident on Harvey Street, Oswaldtwistle, where a naked man approached a 15-year-old girl.

“The police have been notified and our advice from them is to avoid this area plus the adjacent Foxhill Nature Reserve for the foreseeable.

“Please impress upon your son or daughter for vigilance when travelling to and from school, or in the community outside of school hours and ideally not travel alone.

“We have no more information than the above, please contact the police on 101 if you have any information or concerns.”

A police spokesman said: “A 15-year-old girl saw a naked man near a car park on Harvey Street at around 8.20am. He proceeded to walk towards her and she ran away.

“We are looking into the possibility whether this incident is linked to an incident that took place last week.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 101.”