POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man approached a girl outside a school in Oxford today.

Just before 9am, a man approached an 11-year-old girl outside Larkrise Primary School in Boundary Brook Road.

He attempted to talk to her, but as she did not know the man she walked away from him. He took her by the arm and threatened her. At this point another child witnessed what was happening and when the man saw this he walked off.

He was black, about 20 years old, and was wearing a grey, hooded top and grey tracksuit bottoms.

Det Sgt Russell Simpson, of Oxford CID, said: "We are unsure what the man's motives were or what he was attempting to do, but there is a chance he was trying to abduct this girl.

"This is obviously of great concern and we need to find this man and question him. If you saw a man of this description in the area of Larkrise School, please contact us. If you have seen a man acting suspiciously outside another school, then we would also like to hear from you.

"To reassure parents and children, our officers will be conducting high-visibility patrols outside the school."

Det Sgt Simpson can be contacted via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

If you don't want to talk to police and don't want to leave your name, call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.