POLICE are appealing for witnesses to come forward after an attempted accosting in South Ockendon on Monday, 17 May.

At around 3.20pm the victim, a boy of secondary school age, was walking along Fairham Avenue, when an old-style black saloon car with tinted windows stopped alongside him.

The driver asked the boy to get into the car.

He was described as a white man aged around 40, bald and of muscular build. He spoke with a non-local, British accent.

The boy ignored this and as he walked off, the driver beeped his car horn to get the boy's attention.

A woman intervened and spoke to the driver, before he drove off at speed towards Daiglen Drive. The boy was unharmed and made his way home.

A police statement said: "We are keen to speak to the member of the public who intervened as we believe she can assist with our enquiries. She is described as a black woman, believed to be aged around 30 and of slim build. She was last seen walking towards Foyle Drive."

Detective Inspector James Healy, leading the investigation, added: "We take reports of this nature very seriously. We do not want our young people being frightened and approached in the street by people they do not know.

"That's why we want to speak to the woman who stopped and spoke to the driver as quickly as possible as she may be able to help us quickly identify the driver and stop him from doing it again."

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has information about the identity of the man, or CCTV or dash cam footage of the car, is asked to call police on 101 quoting crime reference 42/92874/21.

You can submit a report online herewhere you can use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am and 11pm.