A head teacher is "very concerned" following a report of a child being approached and grabbed in an alleyway near a school.

The terrifying incident happened as the girl walked home from Northdown Primary School in Margate.

The victim was approached in an alleyway between Northdown Park Road and St Anthony's Way at about 3.30pm yesterday.

A post by the child's mother on Facebook alleges her daughter was grabbed by a lady who was with a man.

She wrote: "They grabbed my daughter by the wrist while walking through the alley next to Northdown Surgery, Margate, saying, 'You're coming home with me'.

"My niece who was collecting my daughter screamed at them to let her go and this couple ran off."

Northdown Primary School head teacher, Matthew Harris, said the safety and welfare of children are of "paramount importance" to the school.

"We were very concerned to hear about this incident," he said.

"Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further but we are cooperative with the police and supporting the family concerned."

Police confirmed they were contacted at 4.45pm yesterday after a man and a woman approached a child in Margate.

"The incident happened in an alleyway between Northdown Park Road and St Anthony's Way at around 3.30pm that day," a spokesperson for the force said.

"The man and woman reportedly left the area after being challenged by a relative of the child.

"Officers attended and carried out a thorough search of the area and a review of local CCTV. No one fitting the description of the man or woman was identified."

Anyone with any information relating to the circumstances surrounding the incident is asked to call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/235697/21.

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