AN eight-year-old boy was asked by a stranger to get in to a car as he played out in the street near his home.

The youngster, a pupil at Langho and Billington St Leonard’s C of E Primary School, refused and the man left the scene in Billington.

Police launched an investigation after receiving a call from the boy’s parents at 7.40pm on Monday.

Yesterday, teachers at his Whalley Road school spoke to the 250 pupils about the dangers of talking to strangers.

Headteacher Kathryn Pym also issued a warning to parents asking them to make alternative arrangements for those pupils allowed to walk home alone.

The statement on the school website said: “We would like to inform you that last night, in the Billington area, a group of young children were approached by two men who told them to get in their car. The children did not.

“The police followed this up and have advised us to send you this message.

“If your child usually walks home from school unaccompanied, you may wish to make alternative arrangements.

“If so, please let us know what these are, for example, if you arrange for a relative, friend or fellow parent to collect your child from school.

“We have spoken to all the children about this in school.

“If you are concerned about a suspicious vehicle or people in the area approaching children or near where your children play, please phone 999 if you have a genuine concern for someone's safety.”

A police community support officer was outside the school at home time yesterday, reassuring parents that no abduction or attempted abduction had taken place.

Detectives said they were treating the incident as ‘suspicious activity’.

Parents collecting their children yesterday said they were concerned and upset.

Grandmother Pat Leeming said: “I always bring my grandchildren right to the gates because you just don’t know what can happen.

“This is terribly concerning. Thank God it was not more serious.”

Another parent said: “I have just started giving my children a little bit of independence and letting them walk down into Langho.

“That has instantly stopped because I can’t be sure they will be safe now.

“It’s terrible but the school have been great letting us know as soon as they knew.”

Another parent said: “Honestly, I am not too concerned because I always drop off and collect my children from the gates.

“It’s not nice to hear though, especially in a close community like Billington.”

A police spokesman said: “We are investigating a report of suspicious activity in Billington after an eight-year-old boy reported that he was spoken to by a man in a dark coloured car.

“We are investigating the circumstances but we want to reassure people that no abduction or attempted abduction took place.

“We understand that parents are still going to be alarmed and concerned however we would like to reassure people that we take reports like this seriously and that it is being thoroughly investigated.

“Neighbourhood policing officers have been, and will continue to be, in contact with the local schools, and parents are reminded to be vigilant at all times.

“If you have any information about is incident please call us on 101. Always ring 999 in an emergency.”

The latest incident is just one of several calls police have received about men approaching schoolchildren in East Lancashire.

Similar incidents have been reported in Oswaldtwistle, Helmshore, Rawtenstall and Ramsbottom but police said none were being linked.