TWO teenage boys were accosted by a man in two separate incidents in Clacton at the weekend.

Both youngsters were targeted by a man – thought to be the same culprit in each incident – before running away from him.

One boy was approached near an alleyway off Dudley Road when he was walking home at about 6.30pm on Saturday.

A man stopped him and invited him to walk into the alley, but the youngster ran away and told his parents.

The second boy was targeted at about 9pm on Saturday in nearby Coppins Road.

The man approached him and started a conversation, before the boy became suspicious of his intentions and ran away.

Police are linking the incidents and have launched extra patrols while they search for the culprit.

The suspect is described as about 6ft tall and aged about 50, of large build and with receding grey or white hair. He spoke with a London accent.

In the first accosting incident he was thought to be wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, while the report from the second incident said he was wearing a black beanie hat and black cargo trousers.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Mo Crawley on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.