Schools and parents are being told to be vigilant after the reported attempted abduction of a boy on his way to primary school.

Police were called by the boy’s mother, a resident of Wimbledon Village, who reported that a minibus pulled up next to her son as he walked to Kings College Junior School at around 8am on Tuesday, June 7.

It is alleged that the man driving the bus, believed to be around 60-years-old, asked the boy if he wanted a lift to the school, which the boy refused.

The driver then showed him a piece of paper with school names on, including Kings, and tried to persuade the boy to get into the empty bus.

When the boy walked away from the bus, the driver allegedly said “I’ll give you credit for soldiering on like that.”

The minibus in question was white with black writing on it. Kings College minibuses are blue.

The boy was approached at the intersection of Church Road and Burghley Road. The man is described as a white European with grey hair and wrinkles.

Merton police have confirmed that the attempted abduction was reported to them, and have circulated the information to all schools in Merton.

Anyone with any information should call the police on 101.

Kings College have been contacted for comment.