A THIRD school girl has been inappropriately touched by a man who is removing their shoes and sniffing them in the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area

Police are continuing their hunt after three girls have been approached and been touched on their shoes or feet.

One child was approached in January, a second in March and now police say they are re-issuing an E-fit of the man they would like to speak to after a third child was approached in May.

Police say she was in Robin Way, Chipping Sodbury when she was approached by the man who inappropriately touched her.

A mum of one of the children told the Gazette of her horror after her child was chased by the man before he took her shoe and sniffed it- at the time she said she was pleased that other parents were being warned of the danger.

She said "No one in the area had been made aware so I am pleased people now know about it and can be more vigilant. Thankfully, my daughter was unharmed, but it's definitely made her more aware."

Avon and Somerset police say they are keeping an open mind on whether the three incidents are connected.

The first at around 4pm in Slimbridge Close, Yate, on January 14 was followed by a similar incident at 4.30pm on March 21 in an underpass near Abbotswood, Yate.

The third happened in Robin Way, Chipping Sodbury, at about 3.15pm on Thursday, May 26.

In the first incident, the man was described as white, in his 20s and about 5ft 9ins tall with blond hair. He wore a light red, blue and white block colour coat, dark trousers and blue trainers. 

Officers continue to carry out targeted patrols in Yate and Chipping Sodbury.

If you recognise the man in the image, or have information which could help the investigation, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference 5222011047 (14 January); 5222067867 (21 March) or 5222125160 (26 May).