BREAKING: Police patrols in Hitchin have been stepped up following reports of a man approaching school girls in the Cambridge Road area of the town.

The man has reportedly been trying to engage girls of secondary school age in conversation, commenting on their appearance, and in one incident, which took place at a bus stop, the man touched the girl's arm and back as he was talking to her.

A full investigation is currently underway, and we are appealing for anyone else who has been approached in this way, to get in touch.

The man is described as white, around 60 years old and about 5ft 6in tall. He has white windswept hair and a bushy beard. He could also be wearing a large jacket.

Another description currently in circulation among concerned parents in a bid to identify the man police want to talk to, is that he suspect looked like Christopher Lloyds's Back to the Future character, Dr Emmett 'Doc' Brown.

Herts Police would urge anyone who thinks they may have seen this man, or who has any information which could help the inquiry to get in touch immediately.

You can report information by calling 101, quoting crime reference number 41/30727/21 .

If you believe you are in the vicinity of the man right now please contact 999.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: [email protected]