POLICE in Stroud are trying to identify a man who approached an 11-year-old girl in Bank Gardens last week.

At about 9.20am on Wednesday, March 14, the girl was rushing through the park as she was late for school.

The man grabbed hold of her arm as she was nearing some steps but she ran off towards the town centre and continued to school.

Intentions of the man are unclear as he did not attempt to pull her towards him, nor did he follow her, so his motives are not clear.

The man is described as a white man in his late twenties, with dark bushy hair and a long grey beard.

He was wearing a blue jacket, dirty white trousers and was carrying a vape.

The girl reported the incident to her school and parents, who then reported it to police.

Officers would like the man, or anyone who recognises his description, to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to call Gloucestershire Constabulary on 101 or email gloucestershire.police.uk quoting incident 121 of March 15.