SCHOOLS are on high alert after two attempted child abductions in Chingford.

A man phoned a public pay phone to call a group of girls in Hatch Lane as they passed by.

The girl who took the call was told she would be paid £20 if she met him in his car parked in an alley off the street, behind a row of shops.

A passing woman overheard the youngsters talk about the incident and told them to go into a local shop and call their parents.

But a nine-year-old girl who went to use the same phone box to call home was approached by a man in his car who said she could use his phone if she got in.

The girl ran back to the shop and called the police.

In a similar incident reported an hour later, a man used a pay phone in Leonard Road and offered money for sex to a youngster if she met him in a side road.

She ran to a nearby shop and alerted the police.

The man in the first incident drove a silver saloon car with four doors and was described as black, aged in his 40s, with shaven hair, a foreign accent and of medium build. He was wearing blue jeans and a dark jacket.

Longshaw and Chingford C of E Junior Schools have both written to parents warning of the attempted abductions.

Longshaw head teacher Carol Kirkland said: "We have told parents what sort of thing is going on in the area and to be very mindful of the dangers.

"It is quite concerning. It happened after school at 6pm on January 25 and not on the way home from school. "We have spoken to pupils about the dangers of what has occurred and safety awareness is something that is part of the curriculum."

Parents too said they were being extra vigilant after hearing the reports.

One of the parents, who did not want to be named, said: "We are very concerned, but we are always worried about this sort of thing.

"You always have to be very mindful of what is going on with your child and their safety."

Anyone with information to the police call 8529 8666.