DETECTIVES are trying to trace an Asian man they believe is reponsible for a number of assaults and the attempted abduction of a nine-year-old girl in Gillingham.

The man is also being linked to a sexual assault on one woman and assaults on two other women and a six-year-old girl in Gillingham High Street.

The attempted abduction happened at about 8.30pm on Friday, July 16, but details have only just been released by Medway Police.

Officers are appealing to the public to help identify the man after he approached two nine-year-old girls in Paget Street. He grabbed one of the girls and tried to take her away with him.

Police are linking all the incidents on the three women and the girl, aged six, in Gillingham High Street, the morning after the first incident.

A employee at Somerfield supermarket in was sexually assaulted by the man and two staff at nearby Woolworths were also assaulted.

The man assaulted the young six-year-old in the High Street on the same day, between 9am and 10am.

A spokesman for Medway Police said: "The man we would like to question is Asian and aged between 50 and 60. He has a grey beard and is of medium build and between 5ft 3in and 5ft 6in.

"We would like to talk to him in connection with the attempted abduction and the assaults and urge him to come forward."

Anyone who knows of his whereabouts or has any information is asked to contact Medway police station on 01634 884251.