Two men who tried to drag a 15-year-old girl into their car in Crawley may have approached another teenager.

The girl managed to fight off the pair after they attacked her in Waterfield Gardens, Bewbush, on Wednesday at 8.30pm.

Detectives want to trace a second girl who was spotted in Waterfield Gardens at 6.30pm.

A white car pulled over and its occupants started speaking to her. The girl walked off, crossing the bridge into Ifield West.

The earlier encounter was seen by a witness who police traced as they carried out door-to-door inquiries.

Detective Sergeant Stuart McCall said: "It is a very serious incident and we are keen to talk to the girl who was seen to walk away because she might be a witness or it might show the offenders had been in the area for a while.

"The victim was quite shaken by the whole thing but she is bit calmer as time progresses."

Mr McCall said he could not rule out the men returning and trying the same thing.

He said: "The best advice I can give to anyone is to be with friends and stick with them, even if it is for a short distance.

"People should make sure someone knows where they are going and roughly what sort of time they are due to get there."

Police are still trying to find the white saloon car.

Its rear windscreen and back windows were blacked out and the car had a large, chrome exhaust pipe. Its stereo was playing loud, bass heavy music.

Both men in the car were black and about 25 years old. The passenger had shaved hair and was wearing a dark blue denim jacket and a dark blue or black cap with a motif or picture on the front.

Anyone who can help find the car or the teenager involved in the 6.30pm incident is urged to call Crawley CID on 0845 6070999.