A SCHOOLGIRL was grabbed by the arm by an intruder in the playground of a grammar school.

Police were called to Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School in Waterfoot by headteacher Martyn Morris at 12.30pm on Tuesday when he reported that a pupil had been attacked.

Mr Morris said: "The incident happened in the school playground during lunch when a person grabbed the girl by the arm, but she managed to get away."

"It is an extremely complicated case and the police have been investigating the case for the past four months.

He said the girl's attacker had been described as aged 20, with dark hair and a fringe on his forehead which was not cut straight. The girl was not injured, although she was shaken by the incident.

At the same time Mr Morris said sixth formers reported seeing two men on the site in an unrelated incident and the police had been searching the area to try to trace them.

The girl's father said he did not wish to comment about what had happened until the police had completed their inquiries.

Police in Rossendale are continuing to investigate the incident.