Police have moved to calm fears of an attempted child abduction near a South Norwood primary school this morning. 

Heavers Farm Primary School in Dinsdale Gardens, South Norwood warned parents about men in  a car watching a pupil approach the school building. 

A message to parents, which referred to the incident as an "attempted abduction", said the men had been seen driving off when they spotted the girl's parents. 

Police were called and investigated in the incident, but found there was no cause for concern. 

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Officers attented Dinsdale Gardens at around 9.30am this morning, by which time the vehicle had left. 

"We investigated and conducted a vehicle checks and found there was no cause for alarm. It was not an attempted abduction."

The message sent out by the school said: "This morning we were alerted to the fact that there was a suspicious incident on the way into school before school today.

"One of our parents saw a blue Suzuki car slow down and look at a child who was on her way to school.

"The men appeared to have something pulled over their heads, they did not say or do anything. 

"The men appeared to be watching the child as she approached the school entrance.

"When the child’s parent appeared around the corner, the men drove away. The parent who noticed this, notified the police immediately."

The school reminded parents to be vigilent about their child's journey to and from school and said it would be talking to pupils about how to remain safe.

Police in Sutton launched a manhunt after a man tried to grab a 12-year-old girl in Beddington Park on Sunday.