POLICE believe the same man may be responsible for groping two teenage girls in less than an hour.

Both girls were left extremely distressed after being sexually assaulted in Newcastle on Wednesday evening.

A 14-year-old girl was touched in appropriately while she was walking with friends in Dovercourt just before 8.40pm. The man ran off and the victim called police.

About 40 minutes later, police were called after a 16-year-old girl was inappropriately touched in nearby Monkchester Road. She pushed her attacker away and he fled the scene.

In both cases, the teenagers described the attacker as being a tanned male aged 20 to 30, wearing a dark hooded top, shorts, white sports socks and trainers.

Inspector Neil Brotherton said: "These two incidents have happened in areas that are fairly close and with the descriptions being so similar we believe that it could be the same man responsible for both incidents.

"He has approached two girls and touched them inappropriately, leaving them extremely upset and distressed.

“It's important that we find out who is responsible so we can make an arrest and carry out enquiries.

"If anyone thinks they know who is responsible, or has any information that could help with enquiries I'd ask them to come forward and speak to police as soon as possible."

Anyone with any information into the incidents is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.