POLICE have put out a warning after a man tried to abduct a four-year-old girl from a York park.

The man, who struck in the park at the junction of Wigginton Road and Haxby Road yesterday afternoon, told the girl he was a police officer, offered to take her to buy sweets and asked her if she wanted to see some puppies.

Police said the little girl had told the man she already had a dog of her own.

But the man told her she could have one of his puppies and took hold of her arm. Two 15-year-old girls, who were in the park, saw what was happening and grabbed the girl from the man and took her home. The man then walked off.

He was described as being aged in his late forties or fifties, with short, straight, grey hair. He was wearing a denim jacket, grey T-shirt and jeans.

The incident was reported to police at about 1pm yesterday and is believed to have happened shortly before.

Meanwhile, a man wearing a dress exposed himself to a woman as she cycled through an underpass between Haxby and New Earswick at about 8am yesterday. He was said to be aged in his mid-thirties.

Police searched the area, but could find no sign of him.

Anyone with information about either incident should call police in York, on 01904 631321.

Updated: 14:48 Monday, August 19, 2002