POLICE launched a major hunt after a young girl claimed a man tried to abduct her in woodland near Bovington Army Camp.

Letters were written to local schools warning of the danger and parents kept children indoors until police later said they were no longer looking for anyone.

Officers launched the investigation around the playground and wooded area on Swinton Avenue after the alleged incident on Tuesday night.

The man, reportedly carrying a knife, is alleged to have approached three young girls, aged between five and eight in the woodland and attempted to grab one before they ran off.

Bovington First School and Wool First School sent letters home to parents warning them of the incident. And children throughout the area were kept indoors while the investigation was under way.

The letter said: “We have been alerted to the fact that a male approached three children between the ages of five and eight between 6.15pm and 6.45pm.

“The male did not say anything to the children but appeared to have a knife in his pocket and made a grab for a girl who managed to run home to her parents to report the incident.

“The man is described as white with ginger hair and wearing a black hoody. He had a black and white dog with him and appeared to have a knife in his pocket.”

The schools said that the ‘safeguarding of our children is of paramount importance to us.’ “This was a genuine concern put forward by members of the public.

“Classes in stranger-danger were given to children and the schools have asked parents to reiterate the message to their children at home.”

However, police said later yesterday that following a full investigation they now believe ‘nothing untoward’ had happened.

A spokesman said: “Officers are happy that nothing untoward has happened.

“Following a thorough investigation, police inquiries are now completed.”