POLICE have reassured parents, after reports of an alleged child abduction attempt caused alarm on social media.

Reports on a number of local Facebook sites show an email from a nursery warning parents of an attempted abduction of a nine-year-old boy in Northallerton at 8.54am yesterday (Tuesday, June 16).

It stated the boy had been approached by a man who asked if he would like some sweets, before grabbing his arm.

It went on to say the boy “scared the man away” because he had recently watched a YouTube clip “How to Escape a Grab” and used the technique to escape.

Northallerton Police posted a message to their own Facebook page, stating they are investigating the reported incident, but told parents not to worry.

They asked people to continue to report suspicious incidents, but asked them not to use social media as a “reliable source of information” unless it was posted on an official site.

The statement said they were seeking to identify a man aged about 50 with a “half bald head”, wearing a brown leather jacket, jeans and black work-type boots.

It went on: “We ask the community to be vigilant and report any suspicious incidents to the police, but not worry about their children walking to and from school. We would also ask parents to reinforce the “stranger danger” message to their children.

“Social media should not be used as a reliable source of information unless it is posted on an official site such as the police, emergency services or other organisations.”