THOUSANDS of parents have been issued a warning after a man tried to lure a schoolgirl into his car.

Police were called to Brinkley Grove in Colchester at around 4.20pm on Tuesday when a 15-year-old Gilberd School pupil was approached by a man in a silver car.

The driver stopped and invited her in as she walked home from school so he could ask for directions.

An email sent to parents yesterday said the student “acted sensibly” and took down the car’s registration number, which was passed on to police with a description of the vehicle and the individual.

The email, which was authorised by the school’s deputy headteacher James Mitchell, included safety guidelines for young people such as staying close to a member of the public if they notice someone driving or acting suspiciously nearby.

Gazette:

Headteacher - Linda Exley

It continued: “It’s important the students feel safe travelling on their journey to and from the Gilberd School and we advise they follow some basic rules.

“If you have any concerns at all please contact Essex Police on 101.

"In addition, please also contact the school and advise us of any such incidents so we may share the information with our primary feeder schools.”

Since the start of the academic year, two incidents of this nature have taken place.

Mr Mitchell said these occurrences are “relatively rare” and students have become far better at knowing how to act.

He added: “Greater awareness through education, schools and the media means students are well versed in what to do if a situation occurs, but also they know how to report it.

“We’re always vigilant and if an incident is reported to us we pass this onto parents, and our feeder schools, as part of our normal safeguarding practice.”

Nicole Ferguson, whose 11-year-old daughter attends the school, will not let her travel an hour from Great Horkesley on the bus.

She said: “Parents get regular emails of this nature and it really worries me.

"Why aren’t there police any more on the streets to try to prevent this happening?

“We’ve been lucky no child has actually got in a car with a stranger, but next time it could happen to a child who isn’t so streetwise.”

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "A 15 year-old girl reported she had been stopped by a man in a car who engaged her in conversation.

"He then asked her to get into the vehicle but she refused.

"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Essex Police on 101."