PARENTS and children are being warned to be on their guard after two indecent exposure incidents in a park.

Two girls, aged 11 and 12, were playing in a wooded area of Annfield Plain park, near Stanley, County Durham, when a man waved at them and began a conversation, but they left.

When the pair returned later, the same man exposed himself and committed an indecent act.

The victims went home, but did not report the matter until days later.

The second incident happened when two girls were playing on swings in the park.

A man called them over to the wooded area and indecently exposed himself.

Police carried out a search of the area immediately, but could not find the suspect.

Both incidents took place during school holidays, and investigators believe the same man could be responsible for both.

PC Paul Gray, of Stanley police, said: "With the end of term approaching, parents should talk to their children openly about the dangers strangers could pose to them when they are out and about playing."

The first incident happened on April 4, between 2pm and 4pm, and the second was on June 3, between 3pm and 7pm.

The man in the first incident is described as white, in his late 30s, about 5ft 9in and slim. He spoke with a local accent.

He was wearing a blue woollen hat, jeans with torn knees, a blue, workman's style jacket and workman's boots.

The man in the second incident is about 5ft 8in, of medium build, about 30 to 40, with what the witnesses described as a "fattish face and big eyes".

He was wearing a green hat, possibly a trilby, light blue denim jeans and a dark red, mid-thigh-length, round-necked, woollen jump-er.

Anyone with information is asked to call PC Gray or PC Jamie Bell on (01207) 232144.