Detectives are appealing for witnesses after a man tried to drag a ten-year-old boy into his car in Hayes on Saturday.

It happened at 5.45pm in New Road, near the junction with Uxbridge Road, where the boy was walking alone.

A man approached the boy, picked him up by his armpits and started to carry him towards his car ,, which was described as a dark red hatchback.

The boy managed to struggle free from his grasp and ran away.

The man was white and described as 6ft tall and around 25 years-old.

He had a very short, fair haircut, with a flat top and a goatee beard.

Chief Inspector Ken Wise, Borough Liaison Officer at Uxbridge Police Station, warned parents and children to be vigilant.

'These incidents are very rare,' he said.

'The young lad acted very sensibly, kicking out at the man and then running off to his friends.

'Any youngster approached by anyone they don't know, should start shouting, screaming and kicking because people like this don't like attention,' he added.

Anyone who may have seen a man of his description hanging around the area is asked to contact Detective Constable Richard McGuinness at Uxbridge CID, telephone 0208 2461447.