PARENTS are on stranger alert after two men approached youngsters in a park in Bridport.

The three boys were in a play area in a cul de sac on the Cherry Tree estate when the men pulled up near them in a silver van.

The youngsters fled and raised the alarm after the men shouted at them.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the suspicious incident and want to hear from anyone who saw the van.

Now parents are being warned to be on guard and make sure their children are aware of stranger danger.

The mum of one of the children, who does not want to be named, said: “Parents need to be vigilant.

“I couldn’t sleep after it happened. I am concerned.”

She said that the boys – aged nine and 10 – ran home after the men told them twice to go over to the van.

She added: “I’ve always told the children to shout and run if anything happens. They ran because the fear got to them.

“My son has been quiet and I can tell he has been upset by it.”

The drama unfolded at 8pm on Sunday, May 15. The mum said that the boys described the men as about 40 with bald heads, greying hair at the sides and in a silver van, which was possibly a Renault.

The boys said that the van was silver with a five digit registration plate possibly beginning with the letter A.

The mum said that the men might have had an innocent explanation and urged them to come forward.

Sergeant Jon Bleasdale, of Bridport Police, said: “I really want to stress that this was not an abduction. While the children were approached, they were unharmed.

“However, this was an unusual incident and so we are keen to trace the van and its occupants. The van is described as silver with a five digit registration plate possibly beginning with an ‘A’.

Bridport mayor Geoff Ackerman said: “Parents should be on guard and people should keep an eye out for the van.

“You don’t know who is about.”

Angela Chamney, who is administrator of St Catherine’s Pre-School, said they would be informing parents and asking them to be vigilant.

Witnesses and anyone with information about the Cherry Trees incident the can call the police on 01305 222222.