Parents are warning others to be on their guard amid fears a man in a van tried to “grab” their four-year-old girl.

Clare Kelly and Mathew Coe called police after their six-year-old daughter Amber said she witnessed a man in a white van try to grab her four-year-old sister Holly in Broadway, Silver End.

An Essex Police spokesman initially told the Times officers were “satisfied” no abduction attempt had been made, but they are now re-investigating.

Self-employed property refurbisher Mr Coe, 32, said: “The police said they would search for the van and put everyone on alert.”

Miss Kelly, who is a training to become a teacher, had taken the girls to the park and as they left the park by the main entrance, Holly had run out about 10 metres in front and that is when the attempted abduction is said to have taken place.