PARENTS and residents in Thurrock have received a message of reassurance from Essex Police following growing concerns expressed on social media that predators have been seen approaching or attempting to abduct children near local schools.

Incidents have been reported to have happened at a number of schools in Grays and Chadwell St Mary and suspicious activity reported in other areas of the borough.

However, police say they are taking the reports seriously but so far none have been found to have had any substance.

A statement from the force to Thurrock Nub news says: "Following concerns last week over people acting suspiciously around young people we have since received a number of new reports of incidents and we would like to thank everyone who has reported activity which seemed suspicious or caused them concern.

"We understand that parents, guardians, and carers will feel concerned from the number of posts circulating online.

"We take reports about incidents of this nature very seriously and are reviewing each one that is reported to us.

"Where a criminal offence is identified, specialist officers will investigate.

"At this time, we have not been able to identify any link between locations, descriptions of people or actions being reported. We will continue to monitor the situation and review any reports made to us.

"We continue to work with our partners and the local community to ensure children are safe.

"Our Children and Young People officers are liaising with schools and we are speaking to our local authority partners.

"Officers will continue to be out on patrol in our communities and we encourage anyone who has concerns to come and talk to us.

"Our priority is to help you, keep you safe and catch criminals and we will always do everything we can to ensure this is always the case.

"We will keep you updated if there are any developments and make our communities aware if we believe there is a cause to be concerned.

"If you have any information about an incident please call us on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."