A mum said she felt “sick” when her son and his friend told her they were followed by a man in a white van.

Lisa-Anne Campbell’s 11-year-old son and his 13-year-old friend were walking along Green Lane towards the High Street in Bovingdon at around 5.30pm on Thursday, March 30.

The boys said they were followed by a van that had slowed down for about two or three minutes, but it turned around when a friend told them to wait in a nearby shop.

Ms Campbell said: “When they came home and told me, I felt sick. I thought it was a paedophile looking for a kid to nick.”

Now, her son is not allowed to go out on his own.

Ms Campbell said: “This village gives you such a false sense of security because everyone knows everyone.

“I felt guilty because sometimes I let him do things here that I wouldn’t let him do elsewhere.”

The incident was reported to the police and a spokesperson said: “No attempts were made to touch or speak to the children and no offences have been identified at this time.

“We understand that this will cause concern among the community and enquiries are continuing to trace the van and the driver.”

The driver is described as a man, aged around 50-60 years old, with a buzz cut and scruffy grey hair.

He is also described as possibly wearing glasses and having a cut to the right of his forehead.

Two other similar occurrences have been flagged on Facebook.

One alleged incident took place in the village on March 23 where a man in a van was staring at an 11-year-old boy.

The other post shared was about a man following two young girls and shouting at them on March 25.

Descriptions of the man are similar to the details issued by the police.

But the police have said that neither these nor any other incidents have been reported to them.  

Ms Campbell said: “After this so many parents are not letting their children walk home from school on their own.”

The police said they should be contacted if anyone is approached in similar circumstances.