A YOUNG girl was followed by a man who allegedly attempted to grab her, leaving her petrified to go to school, it is claimed.

The 12-year-old claims she followed by a man in a blue Ford van in Bower Lane, Basildon, as she was walking to Whitmore Primary School to collect her young brother.

After following her in the van, the man allegedly got out of the vehicle and the girl believes he attempted to grab her.

The school has since sent out a message to parents warning them about the incident.

The girl’s mum, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “She’s shaken up and is scared to go to school. She wants to help others and she feels quite lucky but she worries others may not be.

“He knew what he was doing and after watching her from his van he parked up and got out of the van.

“He went around the van and tried to cut her up. She was panicking and just trying to get away and she didn’t want to look back.

“She thinks he reached out and tried to grab her.”

The incident happened at about 4.10pm on Wednesday.

The mum said the street was quiet and empty with no parents or children around.

She added: “You see it in films and hear about it but you never think it could happen to your children and she was almost taken.

“It’s absolutely devastating and makes me feel sick to think people like that are in society and it’s so close to home too.”

The school sent out a message by text to parents which said: “Good Morning, we have been made aware of an incident that happened in the area, someone in a blue transit van jumped out and tried to grab a child, they then chased them.

“They did not catch them.

The local policing team has been told.

“Please be vigilant. Thank you.”

Call police on 101 with any information relating to the incident.