SCHOOLS have warned parents about a 'suspicious man' seen hanging around in East Oxford at the end of the day.

In an email sent to parents yesterday, St Gregory the Great Catholic School said Oxford Spires Academy had notified them of a 'male member of the public acting in a suspicious manner around Marsh Park and Barracks Lane at the end of the school day.'

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The man was described as 'an Afro-Caribbean male with short hair and stocky build' and police have been notified.

The school said police will 'make their presence known in the area' and advised parents to talk to their children, encouraging them not to walk home alone.

Thames Valley Police said it could not provide further details without the date of the incident or the crime reference number.

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One Oxford Mail reader, commenting on Facebook this morning, said: "My daughter said she was followed yesterday in Headington after separating from her friends.

"She called me and stayed talking to me on the phone until I got there.

"She quickly went into a shop with CCTV but she said the guy turned back looking for her. I was a few minutes away thankfully."

The mother said this happened on London Road, between Windmill and Kennet Road.