PARENTS are on high alert after reports of school pupils being approached by strangers trying to entice them into their cars.

Letters were sent out to parents at both Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School warning them of the potential risks of abduction in the town.

Queen Elizabeth’s executive headteacher Graeme Atkins reported in a letter to middle school parents that a “school-aged girl” had been approached by a man in his vehicle, but she managed to safely remove herself from the situation.

According to the letter, similar incidents had been reported in Consett, County Durham.

Meanwhile, James Andriot, the head of school at Queen Elizabeth, contacted high school parents to voice concerns for the safety of children walking to and from school.

His letter said: “It has come to our attention this week that we have cause for some concern over the safety of students on their journeys walking into school, and then going home at the end of the day.

“There have been reports of suspicious behaviour by members of the public. We have also been made aware of similar potential problems in the Consett area through our contacts with their police force. It is vital that students are safe from potential harm or abduction.”

Hazel Davey, the headteacher at Chollerton First School which is in the Hexham Partnership, wrote to parents and said Queen Elizabeth had been in touch to inform Chollerton that there had been three separate reports of youngsters being approached in Hexham.

All schools were reminding parents to pass on safety advice to children, particularly those who walked to school.

Among the pieces of advice were to walk as part of a group, remove earphones and avoid using mobile phones while walking. Children were also being advised to raise any concerns about the suspicious behaviour of the public to the school and the police. Special assemblies were planned across the schools to reinforce the safety messages.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police reiterated the importance of people getting in touch if they had any concerns.

She continued: “We are aware of one report where a teenager was spoken to by drivers of a van on her way back from school.

“Inquiries were carried out and found that no criminal offences had taken place.

“There have been no other reports of suspicious activity around schools in Hexham.”