A third stranger danger warning in the space of a week has been issued by a Medway school after a girl raised the alarm about a suspicious man in a van.

In a letter this afternoon, parents were told about an incident involving a girl from the Rainham School for Girls yesterday morning.

It is the latest in a string of reports of pupils being scared by strangers following two separate incidents near the Leigh Academy in Rainham and Walderslade Primary School in Chatham earlier this week.

Rainham Mark Grammar School deputy head teacher Emma Horstrup wrote to parents today saying they had been contacted by colleagues at Rainham School for Girls.

Mrs Horstrup said the incident took place while the pupil was walking to school yesterday morning.

She reassured parents the police have been informed and are working to establish the situation after it was reported a man in a grey or white van had been driving backwards and forwards slowly alongside the girl.

A description of the man, who was white, in his 50s and had short hair, has been given to police.

The incident is said to have taken place around Begonia Avenue, Beechings Way and Milsted Way.

Mrs Horstrup added in her letter: "We instructed form tutors to remind students of stranger danger in terms of never approaching a vehicle even if called over, to move to an open space, 'yell and tell', to find another adult if possible and to let a trusted adults/parents know immediately of the incident.

"We ask that parents/carers reinforce this message too and remind children not to use their phones intently when walking at the expense of being aware of the traffic and other dangers around them."

A police spokesman said: "At 9.37am on Wednesday Kent Police received a report that a schoolgirl was concerned about a grey van which slowed down while it passed her in the Beechings Way area of Rainham.

"This is reported to have happened on the morning of Tuesday, October 12 and also the previous day.

"The driver of the van is not said to have made any attempts to speak with the girl, or approach her.

"Officers are making enquiries into the circumstances."

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