A mum has told of her horror after her 10-year-old child was approached by a man who wanted to sniff her shoe.

The mum spoke out after police revealed they are hunting for a man they think could be connected to two sexual assaults in South Yate.

Officers have released an e-fit of a man they want to identify after two girls were inappropriately touched in two separate incidents.

Police say tey the first girl was touched inappropriately in January, in Slimbridge Close, the second in the underpass near Sandhurst, Yate.

The mum of the girl approached at the underpass said her daughter was playing with a friend near her friend's house when the man first began asking them 'weird questions'

The children ran away but he followed them before starting a new conversation by telling them his shoe size and then asking for theirs. He then told the girl to take her shoe off and hand it to him. 

He sniffed the inside of her shoe- before dropping it. The children fled.

The family immediately reported the incident to the police and say they believe the man was caught on a doorbell camera.

The mum, who can't be named for legal reasons, said: "The children were out near Abbotswood together when the man started asking the weird questions so they ran away.

"He caught up with them near the underpass and asked for the time before asking about shoe sizes, he then told my daughter to take off her shoe and he sniffed it.

"Luckily the girls managed to run away unharmed, I was horrified."

The family gave an interview to police but had been told that the case was closed - until the latest e-fit was released based on her daughter's description. 

The mum said: "It is a really awful situation, and initially I was hoping it was just someone who maybe had additional needs, but it's very concerning that there are now two incidents, so close together.

"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."

The first incident happened around 4pm on Friday, January 14 in Slimbridge Close, Yate.

The second took place on Monday, March 21 at 4.30pm in an underpass near Sandhurst Street, Yate.

On both occasions, the victims ran away and were unhurt.

Avon and Somerset Police say they are keeping an open mind as to whether the incidents are linked.

One victim described the offender as white, with blond hair and aged in his 20s around 5ft 9in tall. He was wearing a light red, blue and white block colour coat, dark trousers and blue trainers.

Anyone with information which could assist in either investigation, please call 101 quoting references 5222011047 (January 14) or 5222067867 (March 21).