A young girl has been approached by two men in a van as she walked home from school.

The nine-year-old girl was walking along School Avenue in Laindon, shortly before 4.30pm, when two men in a white van started to follow her.

One of the men got out the vehicle and began to chase the girl.

She ran home and was not physically hurt, although understandably shaken.

Officers will be speaking with the girl and her family this evening to establish the circumstances and what happened.

If you see anyone in the area in a white van acting suspiciously or are concerned about their behaviour, call police on 101.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Basildon police station on 101 quoting incident 724 of October 10.