Warning over driver ‘trying to pick up schoolgirls’

SCHOOLCHILDREN are being warned to be vigilant over fears that a car driver is trying to pick up young girls.

Three people are believed to have been approached – with two of them being offered lifts – by a stranger near All Saints School in Clayton-le-Moors.

In the space of a few days, two girls at the school and a mum are reported to have been approached separately by a man. Clayton-le-Moors councillor Melissa Fisher reported one of the incidents to police on behalf of the victim’s family.

She said: “It’s really, really concerning. Three incidents in less than a week. It’s scary. “Everybody is quite worried because it’s a disturbing thing to be happening to young girls and women.”

All Saints headteacher Nicola Saporita-Clark said the school had reported all the incidents to the police.

SCHOOLCHILDREN are being warned to be vigilant over fears that a driver is trying to pick up young girls.

Three people are believed to have been approached – with two of them being offered lifts – by a stranger near All Saints School in Claytonle-Moors.

In the space of a few days two girls at the school, and a mum are reported to have been approached separately by a man near to the school.

A man in a car stopped on Charles Street to offer an 11-year-old girl a lift in the first incident on Wednesday, September 27.

In the afternoon of the same day, a young mother is also believed to have been approached by a stranger and offered a lift under similar circumstances near Mercer Park.

The school say in a third incident a girl was approached by a man on her way home from school on Monday, October 2.

All the incidents were reported to parents via a school app.

Clayton-le-Mo ors councillor Melissa Fisher, whose daughter has just left the school, told the Observer that parents had become ‘frightened’ over the safety of their children following the incidents.

All Saints headteacher Nicola Saporita-Clark said they have reported all the incidents to the police.

She said: “The police are dealing with the incidents. As a school we are just asking our parents to be extra vigilant when children are coming to school and are leaving at the end of the day.”

Coun Fisher reported one of the incidents to the police on behalf of the victim’s family. She said: “It’s really, really concerning. Three incidents in less than a week. It’s scary.

“An 11-year-old girl was approached by a stranger in a black car and sunglasses and asked if she needed a lift to school.

“She ran off but was very shaken up.

“The police have visited her and tried to reassure her. It seems that the same man also approached a young mother and asked if she wanted a lift in a assertive manner.

“We are calling for parents to be extremely vigilant as it seems there is a car driving round Clayton trying to pick up young girls.”

She added: “I know that a lot of parents in Clayton are very frightened now.

“Everybody is quite worried because it’s a disturbing thing to be happening to young girls and women.

“We’ve shared warnings on social media telling people to be careful. When it’s so close to home it is very alarming.”

A newsletter sent home from the school to parents also asks families to “reiterate ‘ stranger dan- ger’ awareness to ensure their children have an ‘age appropriate’ understanding of risks and keeping themselves safe.”

The letter states: “It is very sad that we have to raise awareness within innocent children of such dangers but unfortunately something essential.”

Lancashire Police spokesman said they were called to reports of ‘suspicious circumstances’ on Charles Street.

He said: “A girl was walking to school about 8.10am when a vehicle has pulled up alongside and a man has offered her a lift.

“She’s refused and the man’s driven off in the vehicle.

“She was not harmed. Enquiries are ongoing.”