POLICE are investigating three separate incidents involving a man who has tried to lure children into the white van he was driving.

The first incident happened on Friday, September 15, as two 11-year-old boys were walking to a sweet shop in Vincent Road, Rainhill, at about 8.30pm.

The mum of one of the boys approached by the man told the Star: "The boys had been to a party and were walking to a nearby sweet shop when a large white van pulled up alongside them and the driver told them to get in. The boys were terrified and they ran to the shop. They told the owner of the shop what had happened and waited inside until the van had gone."

The second incident happened the following day at about 2.30pm when two girls, aged nine and 10, were followed along Vincent Road, by a white van with blue, yellow and green writing on the side. They went into a nearby shop and the van went.

The final incident happened in nearby King Edward Road at about 8.30pm on Sunday, September 17, when an 11-year-old boy was stopped by a man driving a white van. The driver asked him to get into the van and the boy ran off.

In all three incidents the driver of the white van is described as having dark black hair and is believed to be in his 30s/40s.

DS Tommy Wright said: "We take any incident like these very seriously and are making inquiries. The three incidents are very similar, involving a white van and a man fitting a similar description in each case.

"I would urge parents in the area to act sensibly and warn their children about the dangers of talking to strangers. And if any children are stopped by a stranger and they feel threatened they should shout and draw attention to themselves and knock on a nearby door, or run into a nearby shop as the children in two of these incidents did."

Anyone who may have any information regarding these incidents can contact DS Neil Cowdrey at St Helens CID on 0151 777 6064, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.