PARENTS have been urged to warn their children of the danger of talking to strangers as police confirm two suspected child abduction attempts are being linked.

Police in Barrow have issued the warning to parents after a second incident this week involving a man attempting to lure a child into his car with the promise of an ice-cream.

The first incident happened at around 6.25pm on Monday when Abbie Dougan's nine-year-old daughter Jamie-Leigh was approached by a man in a silver car in School Street who asked her if she wanted an ice cream. Jamie-Leigh ran home and told her mother, who reported the incident to police.

Then on Wednesday night, at around the same time, a seven-year-old boy witnessed a man, again in a silver car, offering an ice-cream to a young boy in Island Road.

Sergeant Leanne Clark of Barrow police said the two incidents are being linked and has urged parents to be cautious.

She said: "The child has witnessed the incident and run home and told his parents. He was on Island Road when he saw a man in a silver car ask a young boy if he wanted an ice-cream.

"We are treating the two as linked and if any other parents are aware of any similar incidents we would ask them to call us on 101."

CCTV footage from the Co-op in Island Road is being examined by police in a bid to track down the suspect.

Miss Dougan, of Newland Terrace, told the Evening Mail that since Monday she has been contacted by a number of parents who were aware of other incidents involving an individual approaching young children.

Speaking after police confirmed the second incident, she said: "I hate to think how the other little boy feels. It turns my stomach just how unsafe Barrow has become.

"Jamie-Leigh still hasn't left my side since it happened and now it's happened again. I just hope the police catch him."

Police have appealed for anyone with information to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The man is described as white, aged around 50 and with grey or blonde short hair and wearing a grey jumper.