A SHOCKED mum has spoken of the terrifying moment her nine-year-old son was nearly abducted by three men.

Sarah Gittins, 35, from Ellesmere Port, is keen to make parents aware of the incident – the third reported abduction attempt in the town in just over a month – and to be on their guard.

She says three men pulled up by the side of her son, who she does not want to name, as he was walking back with family and friends from a birthday party in Merseyton Road, Westminster, at about 6.30pm on Monday, March 22.

Ms Gittins, a mother-of-three, said her son was walking just behind his uncle and slightly ahead of the remainder of the group, which included her, when a grey car approached him.

One of the passengers shouted at him to get into the car and she claims one of the men tried to grab his arm, but the boy managed to pull away. The car then sped off under the motorway bridge.

Police have launched an investigation and are looking into organising a public meeting for concerned parents.

Schools across the town have been informing parents of the attempted abductions and warning them to be vigilant.

Ms Gittins told the Pioneer: “I keep thinking about how close I was to losing him. I want people to be aware about this and realise how close to home it can be.

“He’s petrified and thinks they’re going to get him at school. We’ve been trying to tell him he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Police are now looking at whether the three incidents are linked.

They are saying no physical attempt has been made to snatch a child, and that no one has been injured.

Inspector Gwyn Dodd, who is leading the investigation, said: “Clearly these alleged incidents are a matter of serious concern for parents and the local community in Ellesmere Port.

“We have assigned a significant amount of resources to investigate the incidents, detectives are conducting enquiries door-to-door searching for information and the young people involved in the reported incidents are being spoken to.

“Additional police and community officers have been deployed in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.

“We advise children to be extra vigilant when out and about, and to try and avoid secluded areas, especially if they are on their own.

“Most importantly, parents need to know where their children are, who they are with, and advise them on personal safety and being aware of speaking to strangers.”