Schools put on 'stranger' alert

On October 4, in Gunters Lane, an 11-year-old girl kicked out to escape a man who approached her. The schoolgirl ran away.

Police describe the man as white, aged between 20 and 30 years old and wearing a baseball cap.

Then on Wednesday morning, in Cranston Avenue, a man was spotted in the vicinity of two girls who were riding their bikes.

He did not make contact with the pair of Little Common School pupils. The man is described as slim, with a long pony tail, wearing a blue shirt with squares and driving a blue car. He wore a 'loopy' earring.

Only last week, a prowler tried to abduct a 10-year-old school girl from Hastings.

Police sent out warnings to nearby schools after the man failed to lure the girl into his car.

Officers stress there is no reason yet to suspect a link in the cases, but are keeping an open mind.

A spokesman for Bexhill police said: "Bexhill police ask that parents are extra vigilant when seeing their children to and from school.

"Try to make sure all children travel to and from school in a group, preferably with an adult accompanying them." Little Common School headteacher, David Pratt, said: "I'm very proud of my sensible pupils and the way they did the right thing.

"A newsletter had been sent alerting parents and the school community to the events that took place in Hastings the previous week. That was done to help raise awareness."

Anyone with information about these incidents should contact Bexhill Police on 0845 60 70 999.

Detective Inspector Mark Ling, of Rother CID, said yesterday: "We have put the cascade warning out around the schools because of what has happened at first near Gunters Lane.

"I don't think there's any need for undue panic. The general message is that parents should always know where their children are and who they are with."