STAFF at Archway School are warning pupils against the risk of strangers after a man committed a lewd act in front of four female students while they were walking to school.

The incident happened between 8.15am and 9.40am on Monday, January 6 as four girls aged between 14 and 16 walked along the Merrywalks footbridge towards Beeches Green.

They first saw the offender outside Subway in Gloucester Street just after 8.15am they then saw him on the bridge committing a lewd act and staring at them.

The offender is described as a white man in his early 30s with short brown hair and stubble. He was wearing a navy hoody and black jogging bottoms with a grey stripe and a dark blue body warmer.

Archway School headteacher Colin Belford has urged students to be alert and remember the warnings parents and school have given about the risk from strangers.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101 quoting incident 88 of January 6.

Officers are investigating whether the incident is linked to similar offences in the area in the past few weeks. A 25-year-old Stroud man arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure remains on police bail until Thursday, January 30 in connection with those incidents.