POLICE have launched an investigation and increased patrols after receiving a report of a driver making a "suspected approach" towards two children walking to school.

A report was received of a gold Lexus pulling up alongside a boy and a girl, both aged 11, at around 8.30am yesterday morning (Tuesday 16) as they walked to St John Vianney school in Sutton Heath, along Elton Head Road, near to the junction with Rainhill Road.

The man driver is reported to have offered the children a lift and asked them to get into the vehicle, but they refused and quickly walked away.

He is then believed to have driven off, turning right on to Rainhill Road.

The children reported the incident as soon as they arrived at school and police were called.

An investigation is now underway and officers are looking into the potential for CCTV footage of the suspect vehicle.

It is the second reported incident of a car a approaching children in recent weeks. In April, a car allegedly pulled up in front of a 10-year-old girl in Parr and the driver beckoned to her. 

Neighbourhood Inspector Matt Drennan said: “The children did exactly the right thing by refusing to get into the vehicle, quickly walking away and reporting the incident when they got to school

"We are treating this incident as suspicious and have an increased police presence in the area to provide additional community reassurance.

“Neighbourhood officers regularly visit schools to work alongside teachers in giving children appropriate stranger danger advice.

“I would like to reassure parents in the local community that we take all incidents of this nature extremely seriously, although they are thankfully rare.

"This incident happened at a busy time of the day with people on their way to school and work, and there would have been many drivers and pedestrians in the area who may have seen what happened.

"I would encourage anyone with further information to contact their local neighbourhood officers, call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”