Police hunting a dangerous sexual predator are checking possible links with the abduction and assaults on two young girls who were driven from Tyneside and dumped in Darlington ten years ago, it was revealed today.

Det Chief Inspector Jim Napier confirmed the line of enquiry after effectively ruling out Lee Bayley, 30, who was found hanged near the scene of the abduction of a six-year-old from her bath in North Tyneside last month.

The girl was driven around and subjected to a sexually-motivated assault before she was dumped naked and freezing in a back lane.

Mr Bayley's body was discovered hanged at his flat in Berwicke Road, Willington Quay, North Tyneside days after the abduction.

DCI Napier told a press conference yesterday: "There is no evidence at this time to link Lee Bayley with the abduction and assault.

"We are pursuing several lines of inquiry and we need to trace three cars in particular which were in the area on the night the girl was taken. "I am keeping an open mind on every line of this investigation, but we are liaising with officers who worked on the abduction and assaults of two girls for any possible links."

The North Tyneside girl's ordeal bears similarities to the abduction of two girls of five and four who were snatched from near their homes in Newcastle a decade ago.

The girls were taken from separate areas four months apart in 1995 and both were dumped semi-naked 40 miles away in Darlington. The kidnapper was never caught.

Specialist liaison officers have been in touch with the families of the earlier victims to help ease their worries about the latest inquiries.

DCI Napier said he was keen to trace three cars which were seen around Willington Quay on Tuesday, December 27, last year. The girl was abducted at around 7pm that evening and found half an hour later.

Among the cars the police want to trace is a red or burgundy VW, possibly a VW Golf, with an M or N registration, seen driving slowing around the Willington Quay area, including the back lanes, around two to three hours before the girl was abducted.

They are also looking for a red car which was seen being driven at speed from Bewicke Road then west along Hadrian Road at about 7.15pm.

The third car was a black Ford Focus which was seen around Station Road/Bewicke Road at about 6.30pm. The car was being driven at speed and making an excessive noise, as if it had some kind of mechanical defect.

DCI Napier said: "We need the drivers of these vehicles to come forward so that we can eliminate them from our inquiries. "We'd also like to hear from anyone who thinks they may recognise these vehicles and who owns them."

DCI Napier said detectives had explored possible links between the death of 30-year-old Mr Bayley and the child abduction case because of the proximity of the flat to the area where the girl was found.

Seeking to reassure parents living in the area, he said: "Incidents like this are extremely rare. If parents take sensible precautions, such as knowing where your children are locking doors when you are at home then children shouldn't come to any harm."

Mr Bayley's funeral service will be held at Holy Cross cemetery, North Tyneside, on Monday.

The abductor has been described as between 5ft 4in and 5ft 8in, possibly with sideburns or unshaven.

Anyone with information should contact 0191-214 6555 ext 63806 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.