Schoolchildren have been put on abduction alert by police after a man tried to snatch a teenage girl as she walked to school.

The kidnap attempt on Tuesday came just two weeks after two similar bids in the Worthing area, although police are not linking the incidents at this stage.

Detectives were yesterday interviewing the Durrington High School pupil who was dragged into a car by her hair as she walked alone along Roedean Road.

They set up a roadblock and questioned parents arriving at school, saying they have identified several potential witnesses.

Teachers at the school told other pupils about the attack at an assembly and warned them to be vigilant.

Deputy head teacher Mark Anstis said: "We were contacted by the police and all of the pupils in the school have been informed and warnings have been given."

He said the school was now helping police officers with their investigation.

The victim, who managed to fight off her attacker as he tried to bundle her into his white Fiesta-type car, was recovering from the attempt.

She described the man as being white, aged between 38 and 42, around 6ft and fat with a broken nose. He was badly-dressed and she said both he and the car smelled of fish.

Detective Sergeant Colin Smith, who is leading the inquiry, renewed his appeal for information as he warned parents and children to take precautions.

He said: "We've identified two or three potential witnesses from the school who may have seen a man fitting the description in the area in the past two days.

"The latest attempt shows how careful you have to be. Youngsters must not speak to strangers and, if approached, should never consider walking with them or accepting a lift from them."

Two weeks earlier, two youngsters were approached by strangers in the Worthing area in the same day.

A 12-year-old boy walking along Columbia Drive, Durrington, was targeted by a man in a blue BMW car.

Fifteen minutes later, a 13-year-old girl was approached by a man in Palatine Road, Goring.

Both refused the offers of lifts and the drivers sped off.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Worthing police on 0845 6070999.