WESTBURY mum Pamela Axford was devastated to find out her nine-year-old daughter had been approached by a man offering sweets from the back of his van the first time she had been allowed to walk to the park alone.

Mrs Axford’s daughter, along with an eight-year-old friend, were making their way through Shetland Close when they were approached by the man on April 21 between 4.45pm and 5pm.

The girls ran to safety but the incident has left Mrs Axford, of Hackney Way, shaken and concerned for her daughter and other children.

The 42-year-old said: “I’m so pleased, happy and relieved that she’s home and I’m very proud of her reaction. But I’m devastated that what I thought was an okay and fairly safe neighbourhood is not the case.

“You take these things for granted, but it shows your children aren’t safe anywhere. She probably handled it better than I did, as I was shook up, I still am a little I think.

She was scared and worried but we sat down and spoke with her and made her realise not to let things like this frighten her.”

Both girls were unharmed and the man was last seen turning the white or silver van round in the cul-de-sac before driving off.

He is described as white, in his late 20s or early 30s, with black and brown hair which was slicked back. He was close shaven and had brown eyes, was wearing a black or dark grey T-shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes, and spoke with an English accent.

Mrs Axford added: “This was the first time we allowed them to go to the park by themselves, but they are mature and street smart, they know not to talk to strangers.

“We just thought it was the right time but as a parent you do feel was that a mistake even though we knew where they were going and what time they would be back.

“I don’t let her go out on her own now though, apart from letting her play in the field between our houses, so I can keep an eye on her.”

PC Ben Agate said: “There are a few lines of enquiries that we are following.”

as a result of this incident and we ask parents to make sure they know where their children are and what they’re doing.

“We’d like to make it clear this is quite a rare incident and we have increased patrols in the area.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or telephone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.