PARENTS have been urged to be ‘extra vigilant’ after a man tried to entice a youngster into his car.
Derbyshire Police confirmed that they were investigating the incident outside Hilton Primary School, in Peacroft Court, which happened at 8.50am yesterday.
Senior teachers at the school quickly sent out a text message to parents and carers, urging them to be on the lookout for a white man in a black car.
Head teacher Kevan Lomas spoke to the Mail about the incident and, while not wanting to cause ‘panic and alarm’, urged parents to stress the need for children to be aware of ‘stranger danger’.
He said: “The incident was brought to our attention by an adult who was walking a youngster into school from a nearby nursery.
“The white male driver stopped at the side of the road near to the school and asked if he could give the youngster a lift.
“The adult reacted in the right way and said ‘no’ before continuing towards the school.
“However, the driver was very persistent and then moved to actually asking the child if they wanted a lift.
“But the youngster ignored the man and arrived at school safely.
“This is very unusual behaviour, particularly how persistent the driver was with an adult so close-by.
“We do not want to cause panic or alarm but would ask parents and carers to be extra vigilant during the coming days and explain stranger danger to their children in a bid to keep them out of harm’s way”.
The school’s text message to parents read: “We have had a report of a white male in a black car offering an unwanted lift to school.
“The police have been notified but please remind your child about the importance of staying safe and saying ‘no’ to strangers.”
A spokesman for Derbyshire Police confirmed that the force had been in contact with the school and an investigation in to the incident was under way.