A Witham dad is warning parents to be on their guard following accosting incidents on a housing estate.

Father-of-two John Hookings no longer lets his 13-year-old son walk to the shops on his own after the boy was accosted twice by a man in a white van.

Mr Hookings, of Alan Road, said: “They thought of someone getting hold of my kid just doesn’t bear thinking about.

“I might get some flyers done to warn other parents because there are lots and lots of kids that live round here.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police have spoken with the boy and will be keeping a close eye on the area.”

See this week's Witham and Braintree Times for the full story