A mother has warned parents to be vigilant after a man approached her and asked to "buy" her child.

The incident happened when the mother and young son were walking home from The Co-op in Canterbury Street, Gillingham, at around 5.30pm on Friday.

In a Facebook post the mother said: "This gentleman told me how beautiful my “blue eyed blonde haired” boy was.

"I said thank you and felt super uncomfortable so started walking a lot quicker.

"This gentleman followed me and proceeded to ask me “how much? How much for the child?”

"I panicked and ran as quick as I could.

"I don’t know which direction he went after."

The man was wearing jean shorts and a navy t-shirt.

Police spokesman James Walker said: "Police received a report that a woman and her child were approached by a man in Canterbury Street, Gillingham, between 5.30pm and 5.45pm on Friday 27 July 2018.

"The man did not make any threats but is reported to have been behaving suspiciously.

"Officers have reviewed the circumstances and met with the informant to gather further information and provide safety advice.

"No evidence of a criminal offence, or any malice behind the actions, has been identified."

A similar incident happened on Tuesday, July 24 at the Pentagon Centre in Chatham.

A mother and her 9 year old son and 1 year old daughter were about to leave the shopping centre.

She said: "A man came up the escalator, he originally walked away then he started asking me if my children were mine.

"He asked me if they were expensive for him (which I could totally of got the wrong end of the stick with it but to me it was almost like he was asking how much for them) asking how old they were."

"He said how handsome and beautiful they are.

"He made me feel so uncomfortable, he was standing so close to me I could feel his breath on my face."

"I asked him to politely to leave me alone, I was so on egde."

"He didn't leave my side until the lift door open I was so worried he would follow me in but he then walked away but stared at me as he walked away until we were both out of sight of each other. "

"He walked in the direction of the old bus station."

"The man was larger build man, black short hair and I think Indian and about 5ft 4."

The mother told security guards and has had no further update.

Pentagon Manager Jay Kent said: “The safety of our shoppers and their families is our first priority at The Pentagon.

"I will be reviewing this incident closely to ensure our security team remain extremely vigilant in preventing any similar behaviour.

"I have checked all our records and spoken to the team who were on duty last Tuesday but we cannot find any report of our staff being informed of the approach.

"If the lady concerned would like to get in touch with me directly we will instigate a thorough investigation so we can maintain a close watch on any suspicious behaviour.

"We would like to thank the Medway Messenger for bringing this matter to our attention and can assure everybody that the safety of families is of paramount importance to me and the Pentagon team."

More as we get it.