A SCHOOL has reiterated its warning to pupils about the dangers of accepting lifts from strangers.
Staff at Holmfirth High School are giving advice to pupils after three girls were approached by an unknown man on their way to school.
The girls immediately ran away and reported the incident to the police, who are now appealing for witnesses.
Staff at the school have been talking to the pupils about what to do if they are approached by a stranger offering them a lift.
Headteacher Dr Andrew Williams said: “It is perhaps a sadness of modern society that when someone offers children a lift we must assume they are, at best, acting inappropriately and at worst, perhaps with criminal intention.
“However sad this is, we must maintain our advice to young people. Never accept a lift from someone they do not know.
“Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of this whole situation has been the behaviour of the young girls involved who were absolutely spot on in terms of their reaction to the situation.”
The headteacher spoke out after the Examiner revealed last week that three young girls were walking to school when a vehicle pulled up alongside them.
The girls ran away and informed the school who, in turn, contacted police.
Dr Williams said there is no suggestion the school was targeted or is a danger.
He added: “At this stage, no-one could be sure of the motive of the man concerned, but we must commend the behaviour of the girls in following the advice given to them here at school and, no doubt by their parents, in not accepting lifts from people they do not know.
“Even if this man had criminal intentions, we have no information to suggest he is particularly targeting Holmfirth High School pupils.
“Given the fact that the incident happened well over a mile from the school, there is no evidence to suggest that our school has suddenly become a danger site.”
The incident happened on May 15 at about 8.30am near to Netherthong Primary School.
Police are looking for a man in a green flat back van.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed that police were continuing to investigate the incident and had stepped up patrols in the area.
Saturday's article included a photograph of Holmfirth High School with the caption DANGER SITE. We would like to make it clear there is no evidence the school site carries any undue danger.
