Girl, 12, 'offered lift by stranger outside school'

Police were called at 9.30am yesterday to a report that, on Tuesday at around 4.15pm, the girl had left LSA Technology and Performing Arts College on Worsley Road, Ansdell, and was approached by the man in a 'dark-coloured' Vauxhall car.

He offered her a lift, but she went back into the school and called her parents, police said.

The school has been informed.

A message sent to parents from the safeguarding team read: "There has been a recent report of two students being approached by people whom they do not know asking if they would like a lift home. In both cases the students acted very responsibly and in absolutely the right way. They did not engage in conversation, they returned to school and contacted their parents. Parents then reported this to the police and they are dealing with these incidents. Where students ever have any similar concerns they should act in the same way.

"Please be mindful of your child's safety on their journey to and from school. Soon, following after school activities, it may be dark on the journey home with less other students travelling at that time. This may mean planning a different route to the one they would normally take home, to make sure they are travelling on well lit and busier routes particularly if they are walking home. All students have also received this message."

Anyone who has any information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting log number 317 of September 26.