A SUSPICIOUS incident in Gloucester involving a five-year-old girl and a man is causing concern throughout the area.

Police are appealing for information after a boy found a man holding the hand of a five-year-old girl after her family lost sight of her as they went for a walk.

The boy found the man and the girl near Bishop's Castle Way at around 3.25pm on Thursday, September 11.

After the boy spoke to the man, he let go of the girl's hand, got into a small black van and drove off.

The man is described as black, in his 30s, of thin build and approximately 5ft 8ins tall. He was wearing a dirty black jumper with black and white arms, green Wellington boots, a flat cap and a necklace.

Officers are speaking to the girl and her family about what happened and trying to establish the nature of the incident.

In the meantime they are encouraging children and parents in the area to talk about the dangers of speaking to strangers.

Detective Inspector David Shore-Nye said: "We are still investigating what happened here and if there was any criminal intent but it is something that should just remind everyone to be on the alert."

Police will be increasing patrols around the area.

Anyone with any information should call the police on 101 and quote incident 269 of September 12.