People living on a street where two children were said to have fled in terror after a man tried to lure them into his car during an alleged abduction attempt last week have spoken of their "shock and disgust."
Police said the children were approached by a man in a black Skoda SUV on Hoole Road, Woodchurch on the Wirral at around 5.45pm last Thursday and encouraged the two children to climb in his car.
Thankfully the two chidlren were able to flee the scene uninjured and escape the man's clutches after the frightening incident.
A 49-year-old man from Poulton has been arrested on suspicion of attempted abduction and taken into custody for questioning.
Police have said that inquiries are ongoing and have asked people to check CCTV and dashcam footage and get in touch with any information which could help with their inquiries.
Residents on Hoole Road told the ECHO of their "horror" that such an incident could reportedly take place in what some people described as a "close knit neighbourhood."
Louise Byrne, who has lived in the Woodchurch area all her life, said: "You don't expect something like this on your doorstep.
"Down by the shops there can be a lot of youths hanging around, but an abduction, I was quite shocked.
"I have kids myself and my son walks to school, my daughter, I take her myself and will carry on doing that. I've given them both the stranger danger talk, it's worrying to hear of something like this going on."
Louise said that although she hadn't seen the incident or its aftermath, she'd heard about it soon afterwards through family and friends.
She said: "It's a close knit community here so everyone gets in touch when things like this happen, the news went on Facebook and I had a call from my mum and I told a few friends to let their children know to be careful."
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She added: "I've lived on this estate all my life and I've always loved it here because it is close knit, I have family close by and it's a family area really.
"It's shocking that something like this could happen."
Another local resident, Kevin, who asked to be referred to by his first name, said: "I'd heard about it round and about, it's shocking and disgusting.
"I have kids but I keep them in no matter what. It's scary to hear something like that happening."
One local resident who moved to the area a few years ago and asked not to be named said: "I just keep myself to myself but I'd heard about what happened. It's scary.
"I wouldn't let my kids play out these days, there's too many things happen, although I did when I was a kid and it's a shame they can't have that really because things like this happen."
Another local resident, who asked not to be named said they were also "shocked" in an area which they described as "popular with families."
He said: "It's families a lot round here with kids playing out on the grass areas in the open, there's always a lot of kids about, parents feel like it's okay for them to play out, but now it makes you wonder."
Merseyside Police said CCTV and witness enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any further information is asked to contact police.
Anyone who can help the investigation was urged to get in touch and motorists urged to check dash-cam footage.
Anyone who witnessed the incident on Hoole Road or has any further information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook Merseyside Police CC with reference 21000282398.
You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form at: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information.
Detective Inspector Catherine Walsh said: “I would like to reassure the community that we take any reports of this nature extremely seriously. Although we have made an arrest, enquires are ongoing and if anyone has any further information about the incident then I would urge them to get in touch.
“If you were on Hoole Road on Thursday night near the Co-Op and saw anything, or captured footage on mobile phone or dashcam then I would ask you to share it with us.
“We understand that there are reports on social media of similar incidents on the Woodchurch Estate and in the Port Sunlight area.
"If anyone has seen anything similar then please report this to police, or anonymously through Crimestoppers, as where we receive a report of children at risk we will not hesitate to take action.”
