A special police squad has been formed after a ‘worrying’ increase in the number of flashing incidents.

An elderly woman in Accrington was left shaken after discovering a man performing a sex act near her lounge window, prompting police to warn people to draw their curtains to stop them becoming victims.

That was the 15th exposure crimes reported in east Lancashire since Christmas.

Detective Inspector Jill Johnston said Accrington CID, uniform patrol, police constables and members of the Danger and Sex Offenders Unit will all work together to reduce indecent exposure.

She said: “We have made ­several arrests since Christmas, following separate reports of indecent exposure, but the trend is continuing which is a worry.

“Young men and old men, both white and Asian, have been reported as exposing themselves in various areas.”

She added: “We are talking to the press to increase awareness and are asking people to report flashers as some people may witness these crimes and not report them.”

Det Insp Johnson said high visibility patrols will be visiting hotspot areas around Hyndburn and east Lancashire.

She added: “We will be exploring more covert tactics too.

“We are satisfied that it’s more than one man that is responsible.

“Descriptions are varied and range from young men and old men both white and Asian.

“We do have a large number of sex offenders in the area but past experience shows that those who offend in this manner are not on the sex offenders’ register.”

She added:?“I urge women to keep their curtains shut in an evening to prevent them becoming victims.”

In the last few weeks there have been four exposures in Hyndburn, and Blackburn with Darwen, which is where the specialist unit will carry out its work.

The incident in Accrington took place around 1am on Sunday, April 21.

Officers are also looking for a flasher who removed his trousers in front of two women in Blackburn shortly after 1am on Sunday, April 21.

Police also said a man in his mid-30s was spotted exposing himself to a woman near Queens Road, Accrington, at around 11pm on April 10.

Another man was said to have cut a hole in his tracksuit bottoms and exposed himself to a woman in Milnshaw Park, Church, last week.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on

101.