A MOTHER is warning parents to be vigilant after a stranger photographed her son playing near their Astley home.

Mother of two Julie Smith, 34, said a man took pictures of her ten-year-old son, Shane, as he played on a rope swing with friends.

The swing, situated on The Ley, beside St Stephen's School, is commonly used by children and is only a short distance from the family's Sunnybank Road home.

The incident occurred at about 7pm last Saturday, when Shane and five friends, aged between eight and 12, were playing.

A man approached the children from the direction of Manchester Road and began photographing Shane and one of his friends. When the boys questioned what he was doing, the man replied that he was "taking shots" and continued snapping.

Mrs Smith said: "My main concern is to alert other parents about the incident. I couldn't forgive myself if anything happened to another child."

The man is described as being in his mid-to-late 50s, bald but with hair around the sides of his head. He wore a green shirt, green-grey trousers and a cream jacket. He was using a silver camera.

Although unharmed, Shane was frightened by the incident and will not walk down the track, which is regularly used by children walking to St Stephen's Primary School, on his own.

The parents of the children involved have barred the youngsters from playing at the spot for their own safety.

Mrs Smith expressed concern about the situation. "I've lived here all my life and used to play in the same area. It's awful that we can't allow our children to play there now," she said. "Summer holidays are coming up soon and it's as if they are being robbed of their childhood."

Mrs Smith said she had reported the incident to police who had taken details to help with inquiries.