PARENTS at a Southampton school were being warned to stay on their guard after an attempted child-snatch happened just yards from the school gates.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Daily Echo, a five-year-old-boy was grabbed as he played in a park next to Portswood Primary School in the city.

He managed to struggle free by grabbing on to gate posts and fighting off the woman who tried to drag him away.

The boy was found in a distressed state by his mother, who noticed he was missing after picking up her other two children at the Somerset Road school.

Letters warning parents about the incident were sent out yesterday after the attempted abduction happened at 4.20pm on Monday. They were also being told to remind their children about stranger danger.

Caroline Cottrell, who lives in Somerset Road, said: "We were all standing around in the play area when the young boy ran away from his mum while her back was turned. This other woman tried to drag him away but he thankfully held on to the railings. She was obviously trying to target the children.

"It scares me because we all go out to the park with our children and it is ridiculous that somebody would want to take a boy."

Det Sgt Robert Bowness said the woman was wearing a purple coat, aged in her mid to late 30s, white with short brown hair.

"It is not possible to say absolutely what her motive was for approaching this child, but we are treating it as an attempted abduction which could have had serious consequences.

"We urge parents picking up their children from schools in this area to keep an eye out for this woman and report anything suspicious to police."

Anyone with information can call Bitterne CID on 0845 045 4545.