Essex Police have reassured residents after social media reports a 13-year-old boy on his way home from school had been approached by a man.

At 3.20am yesterday police received reports that a 13-year-old boy had been approached in Craylands, Basildon, earlier that afternoon.

A police spokesman said: "Details were taken, and the boy was visited this morning by an officer from the Basildon Community Policing Team.

"Enquiries into the report were made, and it was established that a man acting in an anti-social manner had been seen talking to a number of people in the area at the time the boy was approached.

"No offences were reported."