Schools and parents have been warned to be on the look-out after a ten-year-old boy was assaulted by a man driving a red car.

Officers are patrolling streets around schools in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath, following the attack on Friday.

The boy was walking along Leylands Road, Burgess Hill, at about 8.20am when the car, described as a large, red saloon pulled up beside him.

The driver then grabbed the boy by the wrist.

The motorist did not say anything but police said he held him for a few seconds from the car window, before letting go and speeding off.

The car then headed in the direction of Valebridge Road, leaving the boy unhurt but shaken.

Police said they were not treating the incident as an attempted abduction as no effort was made to force or entice the child into the car.

However, Sgt Peter Smith said: "Parents should be aware of this incident and warn children as appropriate. Schools in the area have been alerted and officers are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry."

The assault followed a similar incident in Hurstwood Lane, Haywards Heath, on Wednesday night, about 7.30pm.

Two girls said they were walking along the road when a red Peugeot car stopped in front of them and a man jumped out wearing a black balaclava.

Officers said the man did not approach the girls, or say anything, before the frightened girls ran away and told police.

Police said they were linking the two incidents only by the fact a red car was involved.

However, they followed a separate incident at Haywards School, New England Avenue, on Friday at 8.15am, when teachers reported seeing a man, possibly wearing a black balaclava, leaving the site and running towards Haywards Heath.

The man was described as in his early 20s and wearing beige clothes but no car was seen.

A police spokeswoman said: "There's a red car around that's obviously alerting suspicion. We're making sure as many officers are out there at school opening and leaving times, tracking down this vehicle.

West Sussex County Council confirmed that all schools in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath had been alerted of the incidents. Police are appealing for witnesses to any of the incidents to call 0845 6070999.