Schoolgirl escapes from stranger

A 10-year-old Hampshire schoolgirl was left shaken but unharmed after a stranger tried to grab her on her way to school.

The youngster was walking alone on Lawford Way, Totton, on Thursday at about 0900 GMT when the man approached her and grabbed her wrist.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, asked the girl to go with him but she broke free and ran to school.

Neighbourhood officers have increased their patrols in the area.

The man is described as white, with gelled short black spiky hair and is between 5ft 10in (1.7m) and 6ft (1.8m) tall.

He had a spotty nose and a silver stud piercing in his left eyebrow and wore a grey hooded top with white stripes and a central pocket and thin black coloured tracksuit bottoms with holes in the knees.

Det Sgt Damon Kennard of CID at Lyndhurst said: "This is an extremely rare incident in the New Forest.

"We are working with schools in the area to reinforce the message to pupils and parents to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

"Safer Neighbourhood officers from Totton have been increasing their patrols on the routes around schools in the mornings and at the end of the school day, this will continue into next week."

Anyone with information should contact Hampshire Constabulary.