PARENTS has been urged to be cautious after a man was seen performing a lewd act on himself outside a primary school.

Police were called to reports a man in a car parked near the gates of Canvey Junior School, on Long Road, was performing a sexual act.

The incident took place on Friday morning, before children began arriving for school.

Veteran councillor Ray Howard, who has been a governor at the school for 50 years, said parents should be "doubly cautious" following the allegations.

He said: “If evidence of this comes to light then the man needs to be named and shamed.

“I have been a governor of the school for 50 years. I have never heard of anything like this happening during my time here.

“My advice to parents is to be doubly cautious if we have that kind of person outside our school.

“I’m sure the police will give this their full attention.”

He said he would arrange to a meeting with the the school's leadership team to discuss a course of action.

A woman aged in her twenties claims she saw a man wearing a grey hat and white shirt performing the act at about 6.30am.

He is believes to be in his thirties and was in a blue car.

It is understood the horrified woman, who did not have any children with her, fled the scene before calling police.

Officers are appealing for any other witnesses to come forward.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We were contacted with reports someone had been seen inside a car on Long Road, Canvey, performing a sexual act.

“The offence is believed to have happened around 6.30am.

"Officers will be speaking to a woman aged in her twenties who witnessed the act to get a statement.

“The man is described as driving a blue car, is white, aged in his thirties, and wore a grey hat and white t-shirt.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.”

The Echo contacted Canvey Junior School but nobody was available for comment.