A MAN is being hunted after he called out at a 12-year-old girl to offer her a lift and followed her as she walked to school.

The girl from St Leonards had not arrived at school on Monday morning and was found at a car port at 11.20am after fleeing from the man.

She had been dropped off near Helenswood Academy in St Leonards by her father at 8.30am and was walking at the junction of The Ridge and Elridge Way when a man in a silver car called out to her and asked if she wanted a lift.

She ran back towards Harrow Lane and down the footpath alongside Beaulieu Gardens towards the Harrow Lane recreation ground.

She was found by the property owner in Battle Crescent.

The man is described as white, around 40, of thin build, with short black hair styled in a fringe.

She said that he followed her down the footpath, but there were no further words exchanged between them.

The car was silver, had tinted rear passenger windows and Monster Drink stickers in the back window.

Detective Inspector Rob Morland said: "We are treating this as a suspicious act, although I would stress that the girl was not attacked or physically touched in any way.

"It may be that the man's actions were completely innocent, but we do need to speak to him or any witnesses.

"If you were in the area between 8.30 and 11.20am and saw the girl, the car or anyone acting suspiciously, please email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 448 of January 26."