School children in Canterbury are being warned to be wary of a man trying to entice them into his car.

It follows an incident last Friday morning when two girls from the Chaucer Technology School were walking to school nearby.

As they approached a parked red 4x4-type vehicle, the driver gestured to them to get in the back but they refused and ran off.

Shortly after he spoke to two boys, this time asking them to get in the car.

The students reported the incidents as soon as they got to school a few minutes later.

Head of Assisi college at the Chaucer Technology School, Russ Sauntry said: “I went to look for the vehicle immediately, but it had gone.

“But I want to make it clear it certainly wasn’t our own school keeper who coincidently drives a similar vehicle.

“We reported it to the police and have sent a message around to other local schools so they are aware.

“Whatever this man’s intentions it was, at the least, very obviously inappropriate and our advice to our students is never to get in a stranger’s car.”

Mr Sauntry said the pupils had described the driver as being aged in his late fifties to early sixties with short grey hair and a short beard.

Police spokesman Lesley Miller said: “We are aware of this reported incident and have been liaising with the school. No children were hurt or abducted and we have not had any further reports since this one on Friday morning."