PARENTS and pupils in the Cooks Spinney area have been asked to be vigilant after reports of a man approaching children.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We were contacted just after 8.20am this morning, Thursday, October 4, with concern about a man who approached a ten-year-old boy walking between Ladyshot and Cook Spinney.

“The man did not touch the boy who ran off after becoming uncomfortable.

“Officers completed an area search as part of their enquiries.