Police have told children to be "extremely vigilant" after two abduction attempts yesterday.

The warning came after two youngsters were approached by strangers in the Worthing area.

First a 12-year-old boy walking along Columbia Drive, Durrington, was targeted by a man in a blue, old-style BMW car at 3.15pm.

The driver asked the boy if he wanted a lift. The boy refused and the man drove off.

The suspect is described as aged about 60 with short, receding, grey hair, possibly bald on top. He was thinly built and clean shaven.

Fifteen minutes later a 13-year-old girl was approached by a man in Palatine Road, Goring. She was also asked if she wanted a lift. She refused and the man drove away in a white BMW.

He is described as aged about 30, with long, black, greasy hair in a pony tail. He had a moustache and was thinly built.

Police said they were not ruling out the possibility that the two incidents were linked.

A spokeswoman said: "Obviously the descriptions are different but it is a coincidence to have the two incidents in one day. We are keeping an open mind.

"We are asking for young people to be extremely vigilant."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Worthing police on 0845 6070999.