POLICE in Chippenham are searching for a man who exposed himself to a child for the second time in three weeks.

The man, described as black, approximately 20 years old, of thin build with a shaven head, exposed himself to a 12-year-old schoolgirl on May 5 in Barken Road, off Hungerdown Lane.

This is the second incident in the area involving a man of the same description.

In the first incident, three weeks ago, the man exposed himself to a group of seven and eight year old girls playing on a patch of grass close to Hungerdown Lane.

The mother of one of the girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: "I am absolutely disgusted that this has been allowed to happen again.

"I won't be letting my children out anymore around here. It is no longer safe.

"What is really worrying is that the area it happened in for the second time is a dead end path and so this man had to walk past the children twice.

"He could have easily taken one or done something worse.

"One incident happened to a friend of my daughter's and she is old enough to know what is going on.

"She has not been able to sleep and this has terrified her.

"I cannot understand the mentality of anyone who exposes themselves to children - it is absolutely disgusting.

"I hope the police catch up with him and throw away the key."

During the most recent incident, the man was described as wearing a light grey hooded top and blue jeans.

Police are not ruling out that there could be a possible link between the two incidents.

They say they believe they could involve the same man.

Sergeant Martin Alvis of Chippenham police said: "These are very serious offences and ones that we are treating as such.

"We have to put the safety of the children above all else.

"The investigation is still ongoing and we are taking every lead very seriously.

"We are urging anyone with information to come forward and everything will be dealt with in the strictest confidence."

Anyone with information on the incidents, or believe they may know the man, should contact Chippenham Police on 0845 408 7000 or on Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.