A warning has been issued to parents at Kingsdown and Ringwould Primary School after a man tried to grab a pupil.

He approached the young girl in Cliffe Road on Wednesday, July 1 at 3.45pm and offered to help carry her bike.

He then started to ask what her name was, where she was going and where she lived.

He also put his arms around her waist from behind in an attempt to grab her.

Jo Hygate, head teacher at Kingsdown and Ringwould Primary School, sent a message out to parents the following day to raise awareness of the danger strangers can pose to children.

Police were called but could not find the man.

A police spokesman said: “A man offered to help a young girl carry her bike up some steps. He carried the bike to the top of the steps and then put the bike against the wall.

“He then put his arms around her and started to ask her questions but she managed to grab her bike and run to her mother.

“The man is described as white, 30 to 40, 5ft 6in tall, with receding dark thinning hair.

“He was wearing a camouflage T-shirt and black trousers and was wearing a cap.”

Police confirmed there had been no other reports since then.

The pupil had been carrying her bike up the steps that led to a public footpath at the bottom of St Monica’s Road.

It is believed the man had been seen loitering at the intersection of three footpaths at the end of Church Cliff for around 10 minutes.

A message sent to parents by Mrs Hygate on behalf of the child’s parent, said: “Please be vigilant and if you may have seen this man or have any information that may be of use, please contact Kent Police on 101 and quote reference 01-1059.”

A spokesman for the school said: “The matter has now been resolved and there is no comment to make.”