Town councillors have demanded a stronger police presence around schools in Silsden after two ten-year-old girls fell victim to a sex pest.

The call came at last week's council meeting after councillors learned of two reported incidents in which a middle-aged man preyed on young girls in the town.

Cllr Chris Atkinson, pictured, said: "We need a proper police presence until this person is caught, preferably in plain clothes at school opening and closing times. I'm sick of the neglect of the people of Silsden by the police. It's disgusting."

In the first incident, at 6.50pm, on June 9, two ten-year-old girls were walking along Woodside Road, in Silsden, when an unknown man pulled up alongside them in a grey/silver Astra-type car, which had a bright green stripe running along its side. He shouted for them to go over to him, exposed himself and then drove off.

He was described as a stocky white man, aged 30 to 50, with shaven brown hair. He was wearing a grey T-shirt, which had red and blue writing across the chest, and dark blue jeans.

Two weeks ago, at 2pm, on July 2, a nine-year-old and 11-year-old girl were playing on Bradley Green in the town when they noticed a man in a white car with a green stripe watching them. As the car moved, finally mounting the grass towards them, the girls ran away and told a parent.

The first incident took place only a day after the attempted abduction of a 16-year-old girl in Bingley, who was approached by a man and asked to get into his silver car.

A week later a 12-year-old girl in Gilstead was also approached by a stranger and asked to get into his car.

Because of slight variations in the descriptions given by the girls in each attack, a police spokesman said they were currently not linking the incidents. Police said: "We understand the concerns but we can assure the public that extensive police inquiries are on-going into these matters and we are currently pursuing active lines of inquiry. We believe these were isolated incidents and there have been

no further incidents reported to us."

Det Chief Insp Terry Long added: "There is no suggestion there's somebody waiting outside schools so there will be no extra patrols. We don't think it's anybody living in or connected with Silsden. If we had genuine concerns we would have increased the patrols but our investigations are not building up a clear pattern that somebody is on the loose in Silsden."

Despite this letters have been sent out to both Hothfield Junior School and Aireview Infants School about the attacks and repeating general advice to children. The schools in turn have circulated the information to parents.

A police spokesman said: "Our advice to children and young people would be to always remain vigilant.

"These are primary school children so it would obviously be better to walk to school with friends or, if they are likely to be alone, for parents to arrange for friends, neighbours or parents of other children to accompany them as far as possible as a precaution. Its also important for parents to educate their children on the dangers of speaking to strangers."

Anyone with any information about the attacks should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or West Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060606.