A WARNING has been issued to parents after a stranger posing as an undercover police officer approached a group of children in a park.

The man, who was wearing ‘plain clothes’, went up to the three nine-year-old girls in Whitehall Park, Darwen and said he was an undercover police officer, before asking them their names.

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One of the children told her mother who then raised the alarm.

She informed police and the head teacher at Ashleigh Primary School that the man in his 40s had approached the children.

PC Phil Hambley said he was told the girls were approached in the playground and said children playing alone in the park needed to be careful.

He said: “We were told about the one incident and went to check it out and there haven’t been any more reports. Police officers would be in uniform so that’s why the alarm was raised.”

Ian Matthews, headteacher at Ashleigh, said that children who pass through the park are being urged not to talk to strangers, following the incident which happened during the summer break.

He said: “The police were made aware of the situation and it was reported to me as soon as the summer holidays were over.

“We want our pupils to stay safe. We want parents to be extra vigilant and to be aware of it and for children to be careful.”

Whitehall councillor Karima Foster said she would make sure everyone in the area was aware.

She said: “I am very shocked about this and I will urge the whole community to keep a look-out. Although it is a busy park children can’t be too careful. I will raise my concerns with the police and see what happens.”

Ann Pickup, 69, lives in Bolton Road and said her grandchildren use the playground in the park.

She said: “It’s worrying. There’s usually lots of groups of children who play out and are usually care-free.”