A state of fear exists among parents in Croydon after eight attempted child abductions in 10 days.

Croydon police are working with Surrey Police to launch a cross-force manhunt after the incidents in Surrey and Croydon.

Two of the incidents were in Kenley, two in Warlingham, two in south Norwood, another in Caterham and one in Whyteleafe.

It is not yet clear whether the attempted abductions are linked.

Schools issued warnings to worried parents after two attempts near the Hayes Primary School in Hayes Lane, Kenley.

However, it has emerged there were six more incidents in the same week.

One Kenley parent said: “Are there people driving around the area deliberately trying to abduct a child?

“All the parents I have spoken to are really worried and I have seen lots more people than usual dropping and picking up their kids from school.

“I live two minutes from my son’s school yet I still won’t let him walk there on his own now. He has just turned 11 so I was giving him more freedom but I have taken that back now.”

Another parent from Sanderstead said: “It is quite worrying these people haven’t been caught yet. To think people are driving around near schools trying to abduct children gives me the chills.

“We all received letters telling us about the incidents in Kenley but it’s only through the other parents I heard about all the others.”

Roger Capham, chairman of Kenley Safer Neighbourhood Community panel and governor of Chipstead Valley Primary School, said: “It’s seem to be a worrying sign on the times when parents have to watch every move their children make. Unfortunately at times like these everyone needs to be vigilant and keep watch over our children to avoid anything like this happening.”

Two Asian men, driving a white car, believed to be a Ford, attempted to abduct a young girl near Hayes Primary School at 8.30am in Firs Road on Monday, May 10.

A man was seen in the schools grounds on Thursday, May 13 at 4.30pm trying to get the attention of a girl pupil.

On the same day at 7.30pm in Westhall Road, Warlingham, the driver of a small old red car asked a 16-year-old girl, who was delivering papers, to get into his vehicle.

On Sunday, May 16, at 8.45am, a 13-year-old girl was waiting at a bus stop in Croydon Road, Caterham, when the driver of a blue car asked her to get into the car.

An incident occured involving four children in Hambledon Gardens, South Norwood on May 17.

An incident involving a 14-year-old girl took place in Howard Road, South Norwood on May 20.

The same day, May 20, in Westbury Close, Warlingham, at 4.20pm, two men in a black Mitsubishi Warrior asked a 12-year-old girl to get into the vehicle. The girl walked to the Whyteleafe Tavern pub where she called her father who collected her. One of the men is described as a mixed-race man with short hair.

At 8pm, outside Whyteleafe railway station, the driver of a black 4x4 vehicle waved at a girl and asked her to get into the vehicle. The man is described as a mixed-race man with short hair.

On Tuesday a new alert system was launched across the country to help the public to identify abducted children.