POLICE are appealing for information as they investigate reports of two suspicious incidents in Hartlepool where strangers asked children to get in their car - twice in two days.

The first is reported to have taken place on Sunday evening, September 13, around 8pm.

Two men in a silver vehicle spoke to two 11-year-old boys who had walked from Bruntoft Avenue to Lamberd Road, and asked them to get into the car.

One boy said one of the men tried to grab at him in Lamberd Road, but the boys ran away up King Oswy Drive and returned home - shaken but physically unharmed.

On Monday, September 14, two 11-year-old girls reported a man in a silver car in the King Oswy area at around 8.30am, who asked them to get into his car.

The girls refused to do so, arrived at school unharmed and informed an adult, who contacted police.

Hartlepool CID said: "We are aware that parents and carers will feel concerned and would reassure them that several officers are in the area conducting inquiries and police are working hard to ascertain the circumstances around these reports.

"We would urge anyone with information or who saw the children or a silver car to contact Cleveland Police via the 101 number."

DC Jodi Mallon of Hartlepool CID is also appealing for any witnesses in the streets listed above who may have seen the two boys or any witnesses to either incident.

People with private CCTV footage or vehicle dash cam footage from the area at the time are also being asked to check their footage.

Anyone contacting the police should quote Ref 150364 or 150785.

If you don’t want to speak to police, please consider contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or phone them on 0800 555 111.