Parents have been warned to be “extra vigilant” after reports a man tried to lure a 10-year-old schoolgirl into his car in Bromley.

Police say they were called to Beckenham Lane at 9.35am yesterday (March 5) after what they described as an “attempted child abduction” near Valley Primary School.

In a letter, head of school Chris Hollands said a man in a blue car continued to coax a Year 6 girl into his car, despite her refusing.

Mr Hollands added that the man then got out of his car, but the child managed to run away to safely arrive at school.

He said in a letter: “The driver has been reported to the police but we encourage all parents to be extra vigilant on their journey to and from school.

“If you see any suspicious activity in the vicinity of the school over the coming days, please do not hesitate to contact us.”

The alleged child abductor has not yet been identified by police.

A Met Police spokesman said: “It was reported that at around 9.25am a man in a car tried to persuade a 10-year-old girl into his car in Beckenham Lane.

“The girl was able to run away. Officers from the borough are investigating.”

After the incident, a woman claimed on Twitter she overheard a schoolgirl asking her mum for pepper spray.

She wrote: “Heard young pupil talking about it on the mobile to her mum on bus just now. She was asking for pepper spray. So sad the society we live in.”