TWO pupils from Southbroom Junior School in Devizes have been congratulated for repulsing a man who beckoned them towards his car as they were walking home from school last week.

The boy and girl, both ten, were going home together at about 3.30pm last Tuesday when a car stopped in front of them. The boy saw the man reach out towards his friend, who stepped back. The two ran home and told their parents.

Police have described the man as in his 30s, balding, wearing glasses and an orange T-shirt. He was driving a black or dark blue medium-sized saloon.

The boy's mother said: "It was a very upsetting experience for both of them and it took my son a few days to get over it. I would also like to thank the woman who offered help. If there had not been a witness present, who knows what might have happened?"

Julia Dowdeswell, the children's headteacher, said that the incident was timely. She said: "In the run-up to the school holidays this has raised awareness of this problem. We have a safe school policy. When we heard about the incident we rang the other schools in the area to warn them."