POLICE have issued a statement following the high-profile announcement of TV actor Bill Murray who has warned residents in Thurrock and wider South Essex that he believes a gang planning to kidnap children is on the loose.

The former Bill and EastEnders star spoke up on social media after an incident involving his daughter Lizzie, son-in-law Mike and grandchildren Teddy and Charlie in Orsett.

He and his family believe they came close to being victims of a gang of men roaming the area in a high-powered car, looking to snatch children.

In a highly emotional TikTok interview, the actor described what happened in the incident on Rowley Road and he warned: "They're out there. It's happening in Basildon and Grays, and people are reporting it on Facebook all the time."

There has been a huge social media response to his statement, which featured on Nub News yesterday (Tuesday, 11 April), with many people sharing his concerns.

However, Essex Police have taken a cautious approach to the story and today issued a statement which differs in some detail from the account of Mr Murray, and of his daughter – also published in full on social media.

The force statement reads: "We received a call shortly after 12.35pm on Sunday, 9 April reporting concerns about an incident from around 3.30pm the previous day (Saturday, 8 April).

"The caller reported three men – described as being in their mid-20s to mid-30s all with short dark hair, one wearing a leather jacket and another wearing a cap – in a black Audi A5 had engaged her in conversation as she crossed the road in The Green, Orsett.

"It was reported a door of the car opened but it wasn't reported to us that anyone got out.

"The caller stated her partner approached the vehicle and it drove off.

"No physical contact between any of those involved, or attempts at physical contact, was reported.

"No further information about the car was disclosed.

"Based on the information provided no offences have been identified but the call has been noted for intelligence purposes.

"We know the public will be concerned by a video circulating online relating to this incident and high visibility patrols are taking place in the area.

"We are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any concerns or suspicious activity to us. Please quote incident 474 of 9 April.

"If you have any information or concerns you can report them via our our website where you can use our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.

"Visit https://www.essex.police.uk/digital101to find out more about our website reporting services. Alternatively, you can call us on 101.

"If you would like to make an anonymous report, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on Twitter at @CrimestoppersUK, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111."

The Orsett village green where the incident is reported to have happened.

Mr Murray's daughter Lizzie has given a detailed account on social media of what she says happened.

Through a friend who posted on her behalf on Facebook, she says: "A group of Eastern European men tried to snatch Charlie.

"Teddy, Charlie, Mick and I were all walking through Orsett village today at about 3pm. "We'd been to the park and walked down Rowley Road, with the hospital on our left and the doctors on the right, and were heading to the village shop.

"We got to a little road of houses on our right, called The Green, and I stopped with the boys to pick some wild flowers at the side of the road next to a house. Mick slowly carried on and crossed over the road to the other side of the green, but still on our side.

"We both vaguely noticed a black Audi go past slowly (from the park end), get to the end of the road and turn around. As we finished picking the flowers we stood up and went to catch up with Mick but the Audi had pulled into the green and was in between me, with the boys, and Mick.

"I had hold of the boys because we were about to cross the road anyway. They motioned to call me over but I waved them on. The driver insisted to "let us cross" but as I was crossing the rear blacked out window opened up and showed there were three men in the back.

"I could see a passenger next to the driver too, so five altogether.

"They were all very smiley but all looking at the boys and looking at each other and then nodding to each other and the passenger door started to open as I got near.

Bill Murray speaking on social media.

"The guy in the back must've seen I had noticed coz I tried to distract me by telling me (in a strong accent, like Romanian or similar) that I had nice teeth and asking if I had a boyfriend. I said in a very loud voice "yes - that's my husband right there!"

"And Mick spun round and shouted at me to grab the kids and run whilst he was running at them and shouting at them to f**k off.

"At that point they all started shouting to the driver what I can only assume was "drive." The passenger door slammed shut and the car sped off back down towards the high road and turned left towards Grays.

"I didn't get the number plate. I can only tell you they were a group of five men between 25-35. Good looking enough and dressed well to look friendly and not seem a threat (if you don't automatically think like I now do after today's events) and the car was a smart looking black Audi A6.

"Mick said it was exactly how they do it. It looked like I was alone, down a quiet village road, with my two kids. Because of how Mick and I had ended up walking slightly split up it looked like we weren't together.

"The second they saw Mick was with me and the size of him their whole demeanour changed and I can't explain it - I know they were there for one or both of my kids.

"It didn't really hit me until an hour later when we got home and we were talking about it. I now can't stop crying and shaking and thinking of what could have happened?

"What if Mick hadn't been with us? What if Charlie had done his usual of refusing to hold my hand and ran past them alone? What if I hadn't taken Mick's tone seriously? I might be sitting in a police station right now sobbing and knowing I probably will never see one or both of my babies again.

"I don't want to scare anyone but please believe me - I can't exactly describe it. I've tried my best but you needed to be there to understand it was what Mick and I know it was - they were looking for children to take and they saw us and were going to take my baby. Possibly even both."