A MAN grabbed a young girl's arm as she was walking with her mother in a village in North Yorkshire.

They were walking in Wolsey Croft in Sherburn in Elmet just before 1pm on Thursday, when a man got out of a light coloured Nissan Micra and took hold of the girl's arm, police said.

When the woman challenged the man - who was described as Asian and wearing dark blue trousers and a dark blue top - he got back in the car and headed for the bypass.

Inspector Ian McNiff, of Selby Police, said: "The investigation into this incident is at very early stage and officers are working to establish the circumstances surrounding it.

"There may be a wholly innocent reason for the man taking hold of the young girl’s arm, and we are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident and ask that they contact the police straight away. Officers will undertake extra high visibility patrols in the area as a precaution and to reassure the local community that we take incidents such as this extremely seriously."

Anyone with information should phone Selby CID on 101, email selbycid@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.