A mum today told how she saw a man trying to drag her three-year-old son off a city park as she tended to her baby daughter.
The woman, who did not want to be named, had taken her son to Ribbleton Park in Preston when she says she saw a man trying to lead him away from the park.
Detectives at Preston CID have launched an inquiry and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
The mum said: “I just grabbed by children and got off the park. I phoned 999 as soon as we were far enough away and an officer came to the park.
“I understand the man has been seen on Moor Park too.
“We had gone to the park. My 16-year-old sister was with us.
“We had been pushing my baby girl on the swings. As I tried to get her out of the swing and into her pram I turned around, and I saw a man dragging him by his clothes, off the park.
“There were about 10 other people there, people were screaming and he let go of him and ran away.
“They took my sons coat for DNA tests.”
A spokesman for Lancashire Police confirmed they are investigating the incident which happened at around 2.30pm on Sunday February 24.
The police, in a statement, said: “The boy, who was with his mum and younger sister at the time of the incident is believed to have been approached by a man who was seen walk away with the child from the play area.
“Police are reassuring the community that they believe this is an isolated incident and have not received any further reports of suspicious activity.
“The motives of the man seen leaving the park are at this time unknown.
“Detectives are following a number of lines of investigation to identify the man but are appealing for the man to come forward to assist police with their enquires.”
The man is involved in this incident is described as Asian, aged 25-30 years, 5ft 5ins to 5ft 6ins in height and of medium build. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a dark jacket. Detective Inspector O’Neill leading the investigation said; “At this time we are still trying to establish the full facts surrounding this incident.”
Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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