A mum is warning other parents to keep a close eye on their children after a stranger picked up her baby son and tried to walk away with him.

The 40-year-old was outside Seasalter Christian Centre in Faversham Road when the "scary" incident took place.

Several of her children were helping to unpack the car ahead of a party, when a man in his 40s and walking an Alsatian-type dog approached them.

"I was stood at the boot of the car and the guy walked behind me and went up to my one-year-old son and picked him up," she said.

"He held him up and said 'you have lovely eyes, aren't you gorgeous?'

"Then he said 'why are you shaking? I'm only holding you'.

"He started to walk away with him."

"I let him know I was there and asked my 11-year-old if he knew the man. He said no."

A male friend of the family then took the baby from the stranger, but the man proceeded to approach her other children nearby.

"He then walked over to two children the other side of me and said 'you can come over and stroke my dog, she won't bite'," explained the concerned mum.

"I then told the kids to go inside, and he then walked off.

"It was a scary experience all round. I felt sick for days."

She is now urging other mums to stay vigilant when out and about with young children.

"Please keep your children close or know where they are at all times," she said.

Police confirmed they were called at 4.20pm on Friday, July 13 to a report of a man acting suspiciously in Faversham Road.

A spokesman said: "Enquiries to establish the circumstances behind the incident and to identify the man involved are ongoing."

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police by calling 01843 222289 quoting reference ZY/41014/18.