POLICE have urged parents to remain vigilant after a boy was grabbed by a stranger in a quiet village.

The boy was approached by a man in a grey car who attempted to grab him as he walked along Tollesbury Road in Tolleshunt D’Arcy.

Essex Police sent officers to the village to respond to the incident and urged parents to warn their children about the danger of strangers.

A spokesman said: “Police were called to a report of an attempted accosting in Tolleshunt D’Arcy.

“A boy stated he was grabbed on the arm by a man in a grey car.

“Investigations are currently on-going in relation to this incident.

“We urge parents to ensure their children are aware of stranger danger and ask them to report any suspicious activity to us.

“This is believed to be an isolated incident and, therefore, we do not wish to cause alarm to the community.”

The incident, which happened at about 7.30pm on Friday, comes less than two weeks after a group of men in a van pulled up next to a 15-year-old in nearby Tiptree.

Paul Orchard, the father of the girl, issued a warming to other parents in Tiptree to be on alert after the white Transit van mounted the pavement at the bus stop, in Church Road, opposite Asda supermarket.

The driver shouted at the teenager, telling her: “Get in the van."

The incident happened at around 11.30am on Monday August 3 while the girl waited for a friend.

Mr Orchard, 42, said: “He told her to get in and my daughter said ‘No, my dad is on his way to pick me up.’ “She heard a man shout from the rear of the van. He said ‘No, not this one’, and they drove off.

“Before they did, the driver said they would be back for my daughter.”

He added: “I want to make sure everyone is aware of what happened, this could have easily been an abduction.”

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact Essex Police on 101.

Alternatively they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.