A MUM is raising awareness after her son was approached by a man on his way to school.

The 10-year-old was walking on his own to Stanway Fiveways Primary School, he usually leaves the house a few minutes before his mum and sister.

He was approached at about 8.30am on Thursday, in Robin Crescent.

His mum said: "He got to the building site in Robin Crescent and a gold BMW beeped at him and drove slowly next to him.

"My son said 'go away' but the man ignored him so he ran back to me.

"When I got round the corner the car was sitting outside a row of houses so I approached the man and asked him what he thought he was doing scaring my son and he got very abusive then drove off."

The school sent out a message to parents, saying the police have been informed.

The message said: "One of our students was approached by a man in his 50s with scruffy hair and a leather jacket in an old gold BMW on the Lakelands Estate.

"The incident has been reported to Essex Police but we would like to remind all of our families to be vigilant on their journeys to and from school, especially as we now have darker evenings.

"Any suspicious behaviour should be reported to school staff and the police as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101.