A dad has told of his shock after a stranger tried to grab his eight-year-old step-son as they were walking to school.
The man was with his child on the Loop Line in Walton Vale when a hooded man reached out to grab the youngster in an apparent attempt to snatch him.
The dad, who has asked not to be named, spoke to the ECHO about his upset following the incident which happened at 7.45am on Friday.
He said: "I was walking with my step-son to school breakfast club when I saw a man ahead, and I immediately knew something wasn't right, and so took hold of my son's hand.
"He had his hood up, boots but no socks, what seemed to be kids Mickey Mouse pyjamas on in adult size and was kicking his heels on the floor.
"He had stopped, waiting for us to walk past, and then reached out with his arm to grab my son, so I instantly pulled my lad away.
"The man didn't say anything at all, but carried on looking at us as we walked off.
"When my son got to school at Blessed Sacrament, he told the caretaker to open the gates quickly as somebody had tried to grab him.
"He ran onto the school grounds and hid.
"I saw police surround the man later on Grace Road."
The incident happened near to the bridge on Rice Lane and Long Lane.
Merseyside Police said they had detained him and he was taken to hospital.
He was not arrested and the ECHO understands he suffers from significant mental health difficulties.
The dad added: "My stepson slept a little bit on Friday night, but he was unsettled, lots of relatives have been hugging him.
"I just tried to get us out of there, I did what any parent would do, you swear to protect them."
The child's mum said: "I want to spread awareness and to ask people to please take care with their children and to be extremely vigilant as it can happen to anyone, mother or father etc.
"My partner is and always will be our hero and he did amazing this morning."
