A YOUNG girl has been approached by a man who made suggestive comments in the second sexual incident of its kind in Oxfordshire this month.

The 11-year-old victim tried to hit the man who approached her as she walked in broad daylight through Southmoor, near Abingdon.

The attack happened at 5.40pm on Thursday, but police only released details to the public yesterday, four days later.

When asked why details were not released on Friday, police spokesman, Kate Smith said: "Police release information to the media as appropriate to a policing investigation."

Police are not ruling out the possibility the incident could be linked to a sex attack on a ten-year-old girl in Bampton, earlier this month.

Police spokesman Kate Smith said that in the latest incident the girl was walking along Stonehill Lane, Southmoor, when she was approached by a man near a bus stop.

Miss Smith said the girl, who was in her school uniform, tried to hit the man, who ran off down Sandy Lane.

Police have conducted house-to-house inquiries in the area.

The man was white, 5ft 7in tall and in his late 20s to early 30s. He had dark brown hair and was wearing a white T-shirt and knee-length blue shorts.

The sexual assault in Bampton, near Witney happened at 5pm on Wednesday, September 6. The victim was walking home when a balding, middle-aged man wearing running gear assaulted her.

Police failed to release details of that attack until five days later, when they made an appeal for witnesses.

The attacker was described as a white man wearing a white T-shirt, blue shorts and trainers.

After the man sexually assaulted the girl, he ran off towards the village centre shops.

The young girl also ran home and called the police, who searched the area but made no arrests.

Miss Smith said: "We will look into the possibility that they could be linked but there is no evidence to suggest that they are linked at this time."

Anyone with information about either attack can call 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.