PARENTS are being warned to be aware of a man preying on schoolchildren.

Letters have been sent out by schools in the Dover area alerting them about a bald man in a Land Rover, with a white roof, who tried to grab a boy on his way to school.

On Tuesday morning, a year eight pupil on her way to Archers Court school in Dover, was approached by a man, who offered her sweets and tried to persuade her to take a lift with him.

A spokeswoman for the school said: "The man was persistent in that the pupil should take a lift with him, but she did exactly the right thing by running away."

When the girl reported wht happened the school immediately rang police then alerted other local schools. Now letters and information have been sent to students and parents. Meanwhile, the school is keeping in touch with the Local Education Authority.

PC Steve Noddings, said: "This is a sensitive issue and the description we have is quite vague but our advice to parents is to be aware of anyone hanging around, especially near schools. All schools have been informed of the situation."

In December, police issued advice to children and their families on the stranger danger, after reports of a man trying to lure children into his car in the Buckland and Elms Vale areas of the town.

Heidi Barter, a mother of five children, who lives in Clarendon Street, Dover, has already changed her school routine.

She said: "I now drive my children to and from school. My children are aware of the stranger danger. I have taught them that it is OK to ignore anyone they do not know – it is not being rude.

"Without creating widespread panic, parents just need to be aware, and I have used the Dover Web forum to keep parents updated."