PARENTS are being warned to be on alert after a man approached two boys and attempted to “entice” them into some woods.

The two youngsters were with their family at Wat Tyler Country Park on Saturday at about 5.30pm when they were approached.

Luckily, the two boys did not walk off too far with the stranger and later told their parents who reported it to police.

The mother of the children posted online: “My sons were there with their uncle yesterday and were enticed into the woods by a man in shorts with binoculars asking them if they wanted to see foxes.

“It was when my brother turned around and my boys were gone and he was screaming for them they told the man they had to go in.

“He replied: ‘Why? I’m lonely.’

“I’ve just been there and no members of staff were working and when you walk further into the woods you come out into the car park.

“I don’t want to think what could have happened if my brother didn’t look for them. It was him shouting that disturbed the kids and made them leave. It’s been reported to police and Wat Tyler.

“This was at about 5.30 or 6 pm Saturday. My boys didn’t tell my brother about the man until 11pm or he would have gone searching then and there for the man.

“Please just keep your children safe.”

However, Essex Police sought to reassure people that this was an isolated incident.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We have been made aware of an incident that occurred at Wat Tyler Park on the evening of Saturday May 13, whereby it is alleged that a male approached two young boys in the forest area.

“We are in discussions with both the original informant and staff.

“At this stage we are treating this as an isolated incident and have no concerns.

“We would like to remind parents and carers to reiterate to their children about the dangers of talking to strangers without speaking to their parents first.

“If anyone has any further information or any concerns please contact Basildon CPT either via email or by calling 101.”