CHILDREN are being urged to be vigilant after a man followed a trio of young girls and exposed himself.

The children were playing near Wigan and Leigh College, Marshall Street, Leigh last Wednesday evening when a man jumped out of a bush and dropped his trousers.

The 11-year-olds were on playing fields near the path running from St Helens Road to Pennington Flash at 8pm when the incident happened.

Police have now launched an investigation.

The father of one of the girls, who did not wish to be named, spoke of his horror about the incident.

He said: "At first the girls thought he was urinating but then he pulled his trousers up then dropped them again and followed them. The girls ran home and told us and we called the police but they didn't arrive until 11pm.

"This incident could lead to something far more serious and with the summer holidays here I think youngsters should be alerted about playing in quiet places."

The man has been described as white, aged 30-40 years old, between 5'6" and 5'8" tall and with a mushroom style haircut. He was slim and wore jeans and a black top.

Anyone with information should contact Leigh CID on 0161 856 7252 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.