A mum has urged other parents to be extra vigilant after a man tried to lure her nine-year-old daughter into his car.

The quick-thinking girl refused to go with the tattooed driver, and fled.

But the mum has taken to Facebook to advise other parents in Greatstone to be aware of the man.

The nine-year-old, from New Romney, was on her way to meet her mother after school and said a car stopped beside her in Dunes Road, Greatstone at around 3.20pm yesterday.

The driver, who had a snake tattoo on his arm, asked her to get inside. She fled and the car was driven off.

Now the mum has pleaded to "the people of Greatstone" on Facebook to "keep an eye out for any suspicious activity involving a navy blue car driven by a white man with short dark hair.

"She's fine, thank God, but police are involved. Please make your kids aware!" - the girl's mum

She added: "He tried to get my nine-year-old to get in his car... when she was walking home from school, about 3.3pm.

"She's fine, thank God, but police are involved. Please make your kids aware!"

She said her child's school would be informed.

Now police are appealing for anyone who saw a driver acting suspiciously in the area.

Inspector Bill Thornton said: "The girl did exactly the right thing, refused to get in the car and went to find her mother, who reported the incident to police.

“Officers were in the area quickly and searched for the vehicle but it was not found.

"We are now looking at CCTV opportunities from nearby shops and businesses but would like to hear from anyone who may have seen a dark blue car, possibly a people carrier, in the area.

“Perhaps it was being driven slowly and may have attracted attention.”

Police are now looking for a man described as aged in his 30s, with short, spiky, black hair and wearing a light blue zip-up jacket.

He had a distinctive snake tattoo on his right arm.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police on 101, giving

reference SI/ZY/9280/13.