PARENTS are being urged to be “extra vigilant” after a Wirral schoolgirl was grabbed by a stranger as she made her way home from a Birkenhead school.

Detectives are investigating after the 10-year-old girl hand her hand grabbed by an unknown male as she left Bedford Drive Primary School on Tuesday, January 14.

The girl was able to break free of the man’s grasp and alert a teacher, who then phoned the police.

Officers attended and searched the area following the incident, which happened at around 3.45pm.

A series of tweets from Bedford Drive’s Twitter account have this week warned parents to accompany children to and from school.

The tweets said: “Parents please be extra vigilant as we have had an unknown male approach a child after school this evening.

“Please ensure you accompany your child to and from school to ensure they arrive and leave school safely. Police have been informed.”

A spokesman for Merseyside Police confirmed that an investigation is underway.

He said: “Although uninjured the girl has been left shaken following her ordeal.

“An investigation into the full circumstances of the incident is ongoing.

“We treat all reports of suspicious behaviour seriously and are keen to speak to the man involved or anyone in the area at the time, to help establish the full circumstances of the incident.

“Officers from the neighbourhood team work closely with local schools in the area to and regularly give “stranger danger” advice to pupils.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police on 0151 777 2275 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.