Police have arrested a 57-year-old man on suspicion of sexual assault after officers said two young girls were attacked on Saturday on a street in Teesside.
Cleveland Police had earlier appealed to members of the public for information about the alleged assaults.
The suspect, from Redcar in North Yorkshire, is said to have parked a white van on Imperial Avenue in Thornaby at around 1.35 pm on Saturday afternoon.
Police allege the unidentified man then approached the children, who are both aged under 10, and sexually assaulted them.
He then returned to the van and drove away, the force said.
Earlier, Detective Inspector Jon Tapper from Cleveland Police described the attack as a "very serious incident".
"Our officers are providing a reassuring presence in the area as part of our investigation," he added
The 57-year-old man remains in police custody.
