SCHOOLCHILDREN have been urged to be vigilant after a man tried to lure three youngsters into his van.

The Year 8 pupils were walking home from the Cornelius Vermuyden School, in Dinant Avenue, on Canvey, when a white van parked up on the corner of Central Avenue.

The driver shouted over to the boys and gestured them towards him.

Kayleigh Cartwright, the older sister of one of the boys, said: “My brother told me that he came out of school with his friends and they were walking home when a man in a van spoke to them.

“He said the man looked at him and his two friends and made a gesture and had a suggestive look on his face and called to them to come over and get in the van.

“Luckily my brother is quite sensible and actually told his friends they should all cross the road to the other side of the road. He made sure they moved away from the van and walked off.”

The three teenagers, who were left shaken after the incident, rushed home to inform their families. The school is also aware.

Miss Cartwright added: “It really is quite frightening to think what could have happened.

“It’s really worried my brother. He’s really upset and has asked us to collect him from school, and I know his friends were quite upset as well.

“I have a niece who is only 11-years-old who also walks to and from school on her own. Senior school children know not to get into vans with strangers and I know primary school children have a bit of an understanding about that as well, but you do get some who might not know about the dangers.

"We really want to make everyone aware to be careful.”

A spokesman for Cornelius Vermuyden confirmed to the Echo the incident took place near the school.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.