PARENTS are being warned to be on the look-out for a man who chased a terrified 10-year-old girl through woodland.

The same man was seen two days later watching children in a school playing field.

In the first incident, the

man - described as a fat black man - jumped out at the girl from behind bushes and ran after her until she reached an open area.

He then turned around and went back towards the woods.

Later, members of staff had to call the police when he was spotted walking slowly past a school field. He watched the children for about five minutes.

Stourport beat manager PC Jon Harris said: "The descriptions are similar and we believe this was the same man.

"We do not want to alarm parents but we know there is considerable concern in the area and we want to reassure them these incidents are being taken seriously. We would also like to remind parents to regularly speak to their children about stranger danger and the important of looking out for themselves and their friends, and to report anything suspicious to a responsible adult."

The incident in which the girl was chased happened at about 6pm on September 23, as she was walking through a wooded area on the Redstone nature reserve on the Walshes estate, off Dunley Road, Stourport-on-Severn.

This incident happened nearby at the Windmill Middle School, in Princess Way, Areley Kings, at around 1pm on Monday, September 26.

Diane James, the deputy head of the school, said: "We do teach children Stranger Danger.

"It's a national thing in which you tell children to go straight home from school, go home in pairs and if anyone follows them they should go into a public place."

Have you seen this man?

THE man seen outside the school is described as being black, of a fat build, in his late 30s or early 40s, and wearing black trousers, a white Lonsdale sports jacket, and a grey floppy summer hat.

When he chased the girl he had a small amount of facial hair on his chin, and was wearing a black cap pulled down over his face, a black t-shirt and black jeans, and had a large gold ring on one finger.

Anyone with information about either incident should call Stourport Police on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.