A MUM is warning parents to be vigilant after a man tried to abduct her eight-year-old son then hit him over the head.
Clare Hudson had let her son Matthew play outside their home in Park Avenue, west Hull, when he was approached by a man who asked him to get in his car.
As the boy was sitting on the pavement outside of the house, the man asked for his name and age, before threatening him and hitting him on the head.
Matthew shouted "no" at the stranger and refused to move before his older brother came outside and saw the man drive off in a silver car.
Clare, who was upset and shaken after hearing what had happened, said she immediately called the police and alerted other parents in the area on Facebook.
"I haven't let Matthew out of my sight since it happened," she said.
"It was a terrible night.
"I'm just so proud of him for not getting into the man's car.
"I felt sick when he told me."
The attempted abduction happened on Monday at about 4.50pm after the boys had come home from school.
Clare said: "I've always taught Matthew to scream and kick and act like an animal if anyone tried to grab him. The worst thing is, the window was open and I heard him speaking to someone but I thought it was just a neighbour."
Minutes after she called police, officers searched Park Avenue, Marlborough Avenue, Westbourne Avenue, Salisbury Street and Richmond Street.
Clare said: "There were a lot of children out at that time and I want to get the message out to everyone to beware of this man."
Clare, 40, said Matthew had been outside on his own for five minutes. James, ten, had gone inside to use the toilet when the man pulled up.
The man has been described as white, with long, dark hair and taller than 5ft 8in. He was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of a skull on it. The man hit Matthew on the head after he refused to answer his questions or get into the car.
"Matthew was a bit shaken but he's at that age where he thinks he's a superhero," said Clare.
Matthew said: "I still feel a bit worried about it but I'm OK."
Clare, a nurse at Hull Royal Infirmary, also went into Thoresby Primary School, where Matthew is a pupil, and told his teachers.
Humberside Police are working with schools in the area to provide reassurance and guidance to the pupils.
However, the force is also warning people about speculation on social networking sites.
A spokesman said: "We would like to remind people to be cautious about what they read on social networking sites.
"The level of speculation, rumour and misinformation circulating on social media sites can only cloud our on-going investigation."
Officers were due to visit Clare and Matthew last night.
Anyone wanting to report suspicious activity or details of the man should call police on 101, quoting log number 566 of July 15.
Headteacher at Thorseby Primary School, Melissa Milner, said she was "shocked" to hear the news and immediately organised a special assembly.
She said: "We have sent out letters to all of the parents, telling them about the man.
"We also reiterated the 'stranger danger' message to children in all year groups.
"Parents look out for each other's children and we just hope police can find out what happened and find the man as soon as possible."
• Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
