Youngsters chase away attacker

The children chased the man into Plympton

Children who chased a man out of a Devon wood may have prevented a serious assault on a young girl, say police.

The man fled after the boys found him with the 10-year-old girl at Plympton, near Plymouth, on Thursday.

Sergeant Dave Anning, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "It's likely that if they had not interrupted, a serious assault might have happened."

I would praise these children for being sensible enough to look after each other

Sergeant Dave Anning

The other children - aged between 10 and 14 - had heard the girl cry out.

She was with about 10 youngsters at Chaddlewood Garage, but they left her on her own.

The girl was then approached by the man, who took her about 20 metres into the nearby woods.

Police appeal

When the children returned they heard the girl cry out and went to see where she was.

The man saw them and ran off, but they chased him across The Ridgeway and then New Park Road.

Police now want to hear from anyone who saw a man hanging about in the woods in recent days.

The man escaped into the streets of Plympton

He is described as slim, white and aged about 30. He wore a blue fleece, dark jeans and metal-framed glasses.

Sergeant Anning said: "We think it's likely this is a local person.

"I would praise these children for being sensible enough to look after each other.

"We would always encourage children to play together in groups in the countryside."

The girl has been interviewed by child protection officers and a special operations group has been called in to search the area.

Local people are being asked to check their gardens in case the man dropped anything while escaping.