Boy abducted walking home from school

The boy was taken to secluded woodland

A nine-year-old boy has been abducted in the street and thrown into a secluded stream.

A man grabbed the boy from behind as he walked home from school in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.

He was taken to woodland area nearby and thrown into the brook.

The incident happened between 1515 BST and 1700 BST on Tuesday.

'Extremely shaken'

The boy struggled out of the water and the man, who is believed to be black, held on to him briefly before the youngster managed to break free and run off into nearby Sommerford Road.

A passer-by heard his distressed cries and took him home.

The boy was not hurt during the incident but was "extremely shaken" according to police.

They believe that a second person may have been in the area of the brook at the time of the abduction.

On Wednesday, the headmaster at the boy's school sent out an e-mail to the head teachers of all schools in the area asking them to warn children about the dangers of being approached by strangers.

The headmaster said the boy, who was in year four at the school, did not act recklessly and did everything he was taught when his attacker struck.

Pupils at the school were warned of the danger in assembly and were given advice about what they should do if it happened to them.