THE same man may be behind two child abduction attempts in Swindon in the last month and police warned that he needs to be tracked down before he strikes again.

Today detectives released an artist's impression of the man who grabbed an 11-year-old schoolgirl in an Old Town alleyway.

The girl managed to escape after screaming and biting her attacker's arm.

One month before that a man answering a similar description grabbed a five-year-old girl in Groundwell Road, Swindon.

Fortunately, she too managed to get away.

In both cases the attacker was a shaven-headed skinny man in his early 20s.

The 11-year-old attacked on Sunday is now back at school and recovering from her ordeal.

Her mother, who asked not to be named, today urged anyone who can help the police with their inquiry to get in touch.

She said: "My daughter seems okay but she is still afraid to go out on her own.

"I've found myself looking at strangers in a different light and not trusting people.

"I just want to get it sorted out now there's still the worry that he is wandering around.

"I would urge anyone to please come forward if they know anything."

Her daughter was attacked as she walked along the alley which runs between Victoria Road and the Beehive pub at 1.30pm on Sunday.

She said she became aware of a man following who then ran ahead and hid behind a wall.

After trying to grab her around the waist he ran off in the direction of Victoria Road.

The mother added: "We'd spoken about things like this before and I've always said to her you've got to yell and scream and that's just what she did.

"There were three people at the end of the alley who heard her screaming and that's probably what made him run off. I feel very fortunate you can't help thinking about what could have happened."

The attacker is described as 5ft 8in tall, skinny with short, almost shaven, blond hair and blue eyes.

He was wearing a blue and white horizontal striped crew-neck short-sleeved shirt and white trainers.

A similar-looking man approached a five-year-old girl who was playing with her pram and dolls in an alleyway off Groundwell Road at around 1pm on Wednesday, August 7.

He grabbed her arm but she was able to run home and raise the alarm.

Detective Sergeant Adrian Davies is leading the investigation into both attempted abductions. He was today distributing scores of posters produced by the Evening Advertiser in the areas of the attacks. He said: "A team of detectives are looking into both cases we can't be certain that they are linked but we are keeping an open mind. There are similarities.

"We are now relying on the public we want people to look at the picture and then if that is a neighbour or a friend or acquaintance they know I want them to ring us in confidence.

"We would ask people to report any suspicious males spotted hanging about in alleyways they may be linked."

DS Adrian Davies and his team can be contacted on (01793) 528111. Those with information can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.