A woman was left shaken after seeing a man in a bush committing a sexual act.

It was the second time in two weeks a man has been seen at White Ash Brook in Oswaldtwistle and police believe both incidents could be connected.

The 40-year-old woman was walking along Harvey Street when she spotted the man stood in the bushes.

When he realised he had been spotted he then ran off and drove away in a black Volkswagen Golf.

He was described as a while man, around 50 years old and with short grey hair.

The incident happened at around 4pm on Friday, September 20 and the previous incident happened at around the same time on Friday, September 13 near the Fox Hill Bank Nature Reserve.

DI Mark Vaughton said the area is used by children around that time walking to and from school and appealed for anyone with information to call 101.