POLICE are stepping up patrols near a Dorset school after a girl was approached by a stranger and offered a sweet.

The incident happened near Lockyer’s Middle School in Corfe Mullen on Tuesday morning.

Routine patrols are being stepped up as a precaution following the incident in Phelipps Road.

Police said they received a report at 8.55am on Tuesday that a man in a car had approached a pupil in Corfe Mullen and offered her a sweet.

The year five pupil – aged nine or 10 – was not harmed or touched in any way.

She reported the episode immediately to staff at the school and the police were contacted.

Details of the episode were circulated to other schools in the area.

A police spokesman said officers were looking into the incident and would like to hear from anyone with information.

No description of the man or the vehicle involved has been issued.

Safer neighbourhood teams have been performing regular enhanced patrols in the area as a precautionary measure, he said.

The middle school in Blandford Road has about 400 pupils.

Any witnesses to the incident or anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.