PARENTS have been warned after a pupil was "grabbed" while cycling outside a school.

An alert was sent to parents at West Hove Infant School and Hove Juniors about a report of a man attempting to grab the child in School Road in Hove, off Portland Road.

There was also a second alert sent to secondary school parents from Blatchington Mill School about the incident yesterday morning.

Parents were warned that the suspect is believed to be a man in his 40s who attempted to abduct a child on a bike.

A parent of a child at West Hove Infants said the incident was not believed to have happened right outside the school.

She said: "We got the alert about it yesterday, and there was a big flurry of messages on our WhatsApp about it. As far as we know, someone tried to grab a child from a bike. It has shaken us.

"Sometimes children ride scooters and bikes well ahead of their parents, but yesterday we all walked home with the children glued to us until the man is off the streets.

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"Wehave been unnerved by this incident, definitely. There is nothing more important than the safety of your child.

"It has made us more vigilant, we have kept an eye out for each other in our groups, and I messaged a friend who has a child at a secondary school to let her know as well."

An email sent by Blatchington Mill School to parents said: “We have had a worrying report of a student being grabbed by their bag whilst cycling to school this morning.

“This happened in the Portland Road area and the police are aware. We have warned students this afternoon to be extra vigilant.”

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Meanwhile an alert reportedly sent to parents at a nearby infant school said: “Sussex Police have called to advise that a man attempted to abduct a child on a bike this morning, outside our School Road site.

“The child was not a pupil at West Hove Infant School or Hove Juniors.

“The abductor is said to be a man in his 40s, approximately 5ft 6ins. He was wearing navy chinos and a navy jacket with a grey baseball cap.

“Please be extra vigilant. If you hear or see anything untoward, please report it to the school or police immediately.”